Dubai move: Deputy minister lodges police against Youtuber over alleged slander

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad has lodged a police report against a YouTuber for allegedly accusing him of allegedly colluding with a group of MPs in Dubai in a bid to topple the government.

The Deputy Human Resources Minister said that the individual had attempted to link him as among those involved with the ‘Dubai Move’.

“I would like to state that this act is a malicious accusation deliberately to create a polemic and intentionally to cause uneasiness among the people,” Abdul Rahman said in a statement on Monday (Jan 1).

Abdul Rahman, who is an Umno MP, added that he had been in the country in the last few weeks, attending programmes and meeting the people at his constituency in Lipis.

“Although it was the year’s end, I am still ready to serve the people and remain vigilant in the area due to concerns about floods in the Lipis,” he said.

He also noted that such slander and malicious accusations against Barisan Nasional leaders should not occur at a time when the unity government currently enjoyed a two-thirds majority support in the Dewan Rakyat, forming a strong and stable government.

“Such accusations are very dangerous because they can disrupt the stability of the economy and impact foreign investments, ultimately affecting job opportunities, especially for the youth.

“In connection with this, to ensure that such incidents do not recur and to clear my name, legal action will be taken against the Youtube channel, which has used social media as a means of incitement,” he claimed.

Earlier, another Barisan MP and former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had distanced himself from the so-called ‘Dubai Move’, as he was in the Middle East to perform the umrah, said his special officer Affifi Aris.

Affifi said in a Facebook post on Sunday (Dec 31) that the Bera MP performed his umrah and returned to Malaysia in a direct flight from Saudi Arabia.

“It was a direct flight from Kuala Lumpur-Madinah/Jeddah(without any stops),” he said.

“I hope there won’t be any nonsensical stories with fictitious theories involving my boss,” he said.

Affifi added that he had seen how busy Ismail Sabri was with various activities and programs after his tenure as the prime minister ended.

On Saturday (Dec 30), Community Communications Department deputy director-general Datuk Ismail Yusop claimed that the plot was organised by Perikatan Nasional leaders and government backbenchers who were on vacation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

According to Ismail, a meeting took place during the visit to assign specific tasks to “agents” responsible for identifying MPs who may want to switch their support to the opposition.

“It has become public knowledge in the past day or two about the Dubai holiday by Perikatan leaders. Followed by the presence of several other leaders associated with groups dissatisfied with Anwar’s leadership style and the Madani government.

“It is rumoured that the ‘Dubai Move’ was formulated with assignments given to a person in charge tasked to meet, negotiate and make offers to those identified as potential supporters who may switch to the opposition,” added Ismail.