KUALA LUMPUR: Analysts believe the Dubai Move, allegedly discussed to engineer a change in government, has backfired on the opposition and solidified the unity government's position.
However, they said the government cannot rest on its laurels and is still vulnerable to manipulation of public opinion.
Political analyst Dr Ainul Adzellie Hasnul said that ever since the Sheraton Move in 2020, attempts to topple a government had failed.
He said in the wake of the Dubai Move revelation, more Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) members of parliament were reportedly ready to declare their support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when Parliament reconvenes.
He was referring to a statement on Saturday by Bukit Gantang member of parliament Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal that eight more Bersatu MPs were waiting for Parliament to reconvene to declare support for Anwar.
Ainul said MPs were now more sensitive to the political fatigue experienced by voters and were keen to demonstrate that they played no role in such moves.
Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan said rumours of the Dubai Move had placed the opposition in a tight corner.
He said it also had damaged the public's perception of the opposition and its inability to offer checks and balances in Parliament.
International Islamic University Malaysia political analyst Dr Syaza Shukri, however, said there were more practical reasons behind any switch in support for Anwar.
"I don't think opposition MPs are supporting the government because of anything other than political survival," she said.
Last December, Community Communications Department deputy director Datuk Ismail Yusop claimed that opposition leaders and government MPs had met in Dubai to discuss overthrowing the government.
Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor last Wednesday said the move was engineered based on loopholes in the Anti-Hopping Law used by Anwar's government to woo the support of five lawmakers from Perikatan Nasional.