Dubai Move allegations (2023-2024)
At the turn of 2024, a Malaysian government communications officer publicly alleged that opposition and some government figures had met in Dubai to plan the fall of Anwar Ibrahim's unity government; several people subsequently named in circulating material denied involvement, and police opened investigations. No court finding on the alleged plot is cited on this page.
what happened
The episode began with a public claim. On 30 December 2023, Datuk Ismail Yusop, a deputy director-general in the government's Community Communications Department, said publicly that a scheme he called the "Dubai Move" had been discussed during a stay in the United Arab Emirates, involving opposition figures and some people from the government side, with the aim of finding MPs willing to switch and bring down Anwar Ibrahim's unity government. He declined to name anyone. Subsequent circulating videos and commentary nevertheless identified particular people, making the later denials part of the dispute rather than a response to a wholly unnamed allegation.
The denials came quickly and from several directions. Former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said on 1 January 2024 that he had not been in Dubai at all and had been performing umrah before flying directly home. Deputy Human Resources Minister Abdul Rahman Mohamad, who was identified in a viral video, denied involvement and lodged a police report. Perikatan Nasional secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin said his coalition knew nothing of any such plan and described the claim as slander. In Sarawak, the Premier's chief political secretary said on 31 December that Gabungan Parti Sarawak would keep supporting the government to the next general election. Anwar himself said on 2 January that he had read about it and was concentrating on work. Zahid said he had received intelligence reports about the alleged trip; on 9 January, he also said the government had 150 MPs behind it and that any such attempt would fail.
One set of remarks complicated the picture rather than settling it. On 3 January, Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the "Dubai" label was wrong and that any discussion had happened in Kuala Lumpur, calling it a "Chow Kit Move"; on the same day he declined to confirm a Dubai plan while predicting the government would not last five years. The next day, Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said Sanusi had been speaking sarcastically and should not be taken literally. Those two accounts were never reconciled in public.
Police opened an investigation paper under Section 124C of the Penal Code after receiving reports about the allegation. On 9 January the Inspector-General of Police said 43 reports had been lodged nationwide. Three social media figures were named for questioning, and material by blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin was being examined. More reports followed on 11 January. On 12 January, statements were recorded from four people, including Ismail Yusop, the official who had made the original claim. A separate investigation paper was opened into an online accusation that Perikatan Nasional had sought to influence the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, under the Penal Code's defamation provision and the Communications and Multimedia Act.
The allegation did not lead to a change of prime minister: Anwar remained in office on the Prime Minister’s Department’s list updated in July 2026. The lawyers quoted in reporting identified different gaps in the Anti-Party Hopping law: it does not stop a whole party or coalition from moving, does not unseat an expelled MP, and does not treat withdrawing support from a prime minister as hopping. Andrew Khoo argued that, if such a move existed, it was a question of political corruption; other lawyers proposed constitutional amendment or recall petitions. Norshahril Saat of ISEAS argued that public anxiety over cost of living and questions of race and religion was the more important vulnerability. For a first-time voter, the useful takeaway is that the "Dubai Move" remains an allegation with named accusers and named deniers, and this page cites no court finding on it. Police said in January 2024 that they would refer the question of action against one of those investigated to the Attorney General’s Chambers. This page has not verified a later public disposition of that investigation.
the working
What the sources say
established
On 30 December 2023, Datuk Ismail Yusop, deputy director-general of the Community Communications Department (J-Kom), publicly claimed that a scheme he called the "Dubai Move" had been discussed during a stay in the United Arab Emirates, allegedly involving Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders together with "certain representatives of the government", with the stated aim of identifying MPs who could be induced to switch sides and bring down the unity government.
J-Kom claims 'Dubai Move' aims to topple PM Anwar and his unity govt · Malaysia's Dubai Move: Nothing to See Here
established
Ismail Yusop said in the same remarks that he would not name any individual, stating that he did not want to take responsibility for revealing names.
established
On 1 January 2024, former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob denied any involvement, saying "I don't know whether or not there is such a move. I am not involved and I did not go to Dubai," and stating that he had been performing umrah in Mecca and Medina and flew directly to Kuala Lumpur on 31 December.
established
On 1 January 2024, Deputy Human Resources Minister and Lipis MP Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad denied an allegation in a viral YouTube video that he was involved in an attempt to bring down the unity government, and lodged a police report.
established
Perikatan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said PN members were unaware of any "Dubai Move" and characterised the claim as slander advanced for the political interest of others.
Hamzah: PN unaware of Dubai Move · opposition denies involvement
established
On 31 December 2023, Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, chief political secretary to Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, said Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) would continue to support the Anwar-led government until the next general election and was "not interested in participating in any political coup such as the purported 'Dubai Move'".
established
On 2 January 2024, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said of the allegation: "I have read about the Dubai Move but for me, we are concentrating on our work. Their deception for me has no effect."
'Dubai Move' has no impact on administration - PM Anwar · Malaysia's Anwar Brushes Off Alleged Plot to Topple Government
established
Also on 2 January, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that he had received intelligence reports about the alleged move from the time of the alleged participants’ flight to Dubai and afterwards; this was Zahid’s assertion, not an independently published intelligence record.
established
On 9 January 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said in Kota Tinggi that the federal government had the support of 150 MPs and that "I think that it (Dubai Move) will not happen as we have 150 MPs supporting", adding that those with "grand dreams of being prime minister... shouldn't waste people's time".
established
On 3 January 2024, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the label "Dubai Move" was misplaced and that any such discussion had taken place in Kuala Lumpur, calling it a "Chow Kit Move"; in separate remarks the same day he declined to confirm a "Dubai Move" while saying the government would not last five years.
Kedah MB confirms plot to topple Anwar govt · Sanusi denies talk of 'Dubai Move' but says govt will not last five years
established
On 4 January 2024, Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said Sanusi's "Chow Kit Move" remark should not be taken literally, describing it as sarcasm.
Bersatu Youth chief: Sanusi was just kidding about 'Chow Kit Move' · Sanusi was just kidding about 'Chow Kit Move'
established
On 9 January 2024, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said 43 police reports had been lodged nationwide over the "Dubai Move" and that an investigation paper had been opened under Section 124C of the Penal Code, which covers attempts to commit an activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy and carries imprisonment of up to 15 years.
IGP: 43 police reports lodged on 'Dubai Move' · Dubai Move: Police to call up Papagomo
established
The IGP named three social media figures to be summoned: Badrul Hisham Shaharin (Chegubard), Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris (Papagomo) and Mohamad Salim Iskandar, and said police were also examining video content by blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, who was said to be abroad at the time.
established
On 11 January 2024, Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Allaudeen Abdul Majid said 13 further reports had been lodged that day and that the matter was being handled by Bukit Aman.
13 more police reports lodged on 'Dubai Move' · Dubai Move: 13 police reports lodged today
established
On 12 January 2024, police recorded statements from four people over the allegation: Ismail Yusop, Papagomo, Chegubard and Mohamad Salim Iskandar.
established
Separately, police opened an investigation paper into an accusation circulating online that Perikatan Nasional had sought to bribe the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, under Section 500 of the Penal Code (defamation) and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998; the IGP said 145 police reports had by then been lodged in connection with the wider matter, four of them on this specific accusation.
established
On 13 January 2024 the Inspector-General of Police said police would refer the matter to the Attorney-General's Chambers for a decision on what action to take against blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, and that other individuals were still to be questioned. The cited January 2024 reports do not record a later disposition of the Section 124C investigation.
established
Malaysia's Anti-Party Hopping law, in force since October 2022, does not prevent a whole party or coalition from shifting bloc, does not remove an MP expelled by their party, and does not treat withdrawal of support for a prime minister as hopping.
From 'Dubai Move' to 'Chow Kit Move': Experts say toppling bid highlights unpatched loopholes in anti-hopping law · FULCRUM
established
The episode did not result in a change of prime minister: the Prime Minister’s Department’s official list, updated 21 July 2026, still identifies Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister. This page has not independently verified every confidence motion or individual defection after January 2024.
uncertain
No verified participant list or meeting dates for the alleged Dubai meeting have been published in the public material checked; the alleged meeting therefore remains an allegation rather than an established event.
alleged
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said Ismail Yusop’s initial statement originated from circulated WhatsApp-group conversations and said J-Kom needed changes to its functions and coordination; police opened an investigation and recorded statements, but no public evidentiary record or disciplinary outcome has been located.
where accounts differ
The parts nobody agrees on
contested
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the government had intelligence reports from the alleged participants’ flight to Dubai and subsequent reporting which he said supported the claim that a meeting occurred; he did not disclose the underlying reports, participants’ identities or their contents, and PN figures denied the alleged plot.
alleged
Whether any meeting to plan the removal of the unity government actually took place in Dubai. Ismail Yusop of J-Kom asserted that it did; Hamzah Zainudin said PN knew nothing of it and called the claim slander; Ismail Sabri Yaakob said he was not there and was performing umrah. The cited reports do not publish a document, participant list or independent corroborating record.
contested
Whether any manoeuvre existed at all under a different name. Sanusi Md Nor said the plan, if any, was discussed in Kuala Lumpur rather than Dubai; Wan Ahmad Fayhsal said Sanusi was being sarcastic and should not be read literally. The two accounts have not been reconciled publicly.
alleged
Whether statutory declarations withdrawing support from the prime minister were ever collected. Claims of such declarations circulated online, including in material by Raja Petra Kamarudin that police said they were examining; the cited reports do not publish or verify a set of declarations.
alleged
Whether Perikatan Nasional sought to influence the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. This was an accusation circulating in public commentary that police investigated as possible defamation and improper online communication, not a finding by any authority.
contested
Why the episode gained traction. Norshahril Saat of ISEAS argued that the underlying vulnerability was public anxiety over cost of living, the economy and questions of race and religion, together with a fall in Anwar's approval rating, rather than any specific manoeuvre. Other commentators, including in the South China Morning Post, framed the persistence of the talk as a symptom of thin Malay-Muslim support for the unity government. Neither reading has been tested against a formal inquiry.
contested
What the episode implies about the Anti-Party Hopping law. Andrew Khoo said that if there was such a thing as the "Dubai Move" it was fundamentally an issue of political corruption; Nik Ahmad Kamal Nik Mahmood suggested party constitutions could deem supporting MPs as having resigned; New Sin Yew proposed either extending the definition of hopping to confidence votes or introducing recall petitions. No amendment followed.
still being researched
- What became of the Section 124C investigation. Police said on 13 January 2024 that they would refer the question of action against one of the people investigated to the Attorney General's Chambers; this page has not verified a later public decision, charge or closure and does not assert that the file is either open or shut.
- Whether anyone was ever charged in connection with the "Dubai Move" allegations or with the accusation involving the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
- Whether any public internal review or disciplinary outcome followed Ismail Yusop’s statement.
- What the undisclosed intelligence reports Ahmad Zahid Hamidi referred to contained.
- Whether the final tally of police reports rose above the 145 figure cited on 12 January 2024.