Ismail Sabri, Ka Siong deny 'Tropicana Move' meeting's existence

SHAH ALAM - Two Barisan Nasional leaders have denied that there was a closed-door meeting involving them and PAS leaders at a golf club in Petaling Jaya on Friday.

Umno vice president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong have both categorically denied such a meeting took place.

As rumours of the meeting spread like wildfire on social media, netizens were quick to dub it 'The Tropicana Move', echoing the theme coined for the infamous 'Sheraton Move' which saw a gathering which led to the downfall of the Pakatan Harapan government in March 2020.

Ismail Sabri was aghast in noting that all his actions were being misinterpreted to paint him as traitor if he met friends from Pas, while those who met with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) leadership were considered heroes.

"It's not right. There's no meeting involving those 10 people. Look at the list of names. There were just five people. It's all nasty slander to ruin my name," said Ismail Sabri.

"Why can’t I meet my friends? Meeting friends from Pas means I am a traitor, while if we meet people from PH, it is seen as being the party's saviour. Everyone has gone crazy," Malaysiakini quoted Ismail Sabri as saying.

The rumours of the meeting were being spread on social media, accompanied by several pictures. 10 BN and Pas leaders were allegedly involved in the closed-door meeting.

Apart from Ismail Sabri, another leader who was allegedly present was Umno Ketereh division chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa; Pas secretary general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, Wee and former Umno Putrajaya deputy division chief Datuk Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz.

Ismail Sabri explained that on Friday that he only attended the farewell ceremony with his former staff in the Prime Minister's Department, but there was misinformation being spread that he was with Barisan Nasional treasurer Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

In addition, he said, other Umno leaders such as Khairy Jamaluddin were also being vilified for going against the party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

"Right now, because they want to support others to form the government and elevate certain people as Prime Minister, there is infighting within the party which is dividing Umno," he said.

Meanwhile, via a Facebook post, Wee also expressed regret at what he considered defamatory rumours that he was involved in the said closed-door meeting.

The former Transport Minister also insisted he was not involved in any discussions with any representatives of political parties.

"MCA has made it clear that it is in line with the decree of His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to form a unity government," he said.

The Ayer Hitam MP also explained the situation on Friday.

"Yes, yesterday morning (Friday) I did go to Tropicana Golf Club at the invitation of two entrepreneurs to join the dimsum brunch at the Chinese Restaurant, at the club.

"When I arrived at Tropicana, I came across the ninth Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob who had breakfast at the café next door to the Chinese Restaurant.

"I said hello to Ismail before two of my friends arrived. When my friends arrived, I went straight into the Chinese Restaurant," he said.