SHAH ALAM - Former Pejuang deputy president Datuk Marzuki Yahya vehemently denies that former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was recently involved in a movement to overthrow the government called the "Dubai Move".
Marzuki, a former foreign minister, stressed that it was highly unlikely for Dr Mahathir to be involved in any secret meetings with a handful of government-supporting parliamentarians and leaders of Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
He added that this was because Dr Mahathir last travelled abroad several weeks ago.
Marzuki expressed his disappointment with the conduct of certain parties in the unity government who were attempting to link Dr Mahathir with speculations about the Dubai Move, describing it as baseless.
"As for Dubai Move, we have no knowledge of it.
"When this movement is linked to Tun (Dr Mahathir), I can guarantee that it is inaccurate and a baseless accusation.
"Over the past few weeks, Tun M has not travelled abroad.
"The last time he was outside the country was last week when he went to Langkawi," he told Sinar, yesterday.
Speculations over the Dubai Move arose following media reports indicating alleged discussions between opposition leaders and certain government representatives during their recent visit to the UAE.
Community Communications Department (J-Kom) deputy director (community communications) Datuk Ismail Yusop claimed that there was a secret plan to overthrow Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's government involving influential veteran political figures with the title Tun.
Marzuki also characterised speculation about the Dubai Move as deliberately exaggerated by the unity government to divert the public's attention from various issues of weaknesses in the current government's administration.
He pointed out that if the allegations of a plot to overthrow the government by the opposition party were true, they did not need to hold meetings in a distant location, even in a Middle Eastern country.
"To bring down the government, there's no need to go for Langkah Dubai; even Langkah Kedai Mamak (Mamak Shop Move) could work if the opposition party really wants to pursue it.
"I am baffled as to why the current government is not truly focusing on efforts to resolve urgent issues related to the interests of the people, especially concerning the rising cost of living.
"Does an excessively suspicious attitude towards the opposition and the fear of losing the position of Prime Minister cause Datuk Seri Anwar to be willing to use all government machinery to create tales to suppress the opposition?" he said.