PETALING JAYA: A “Jakarta Move” to topple the unity government?

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob denied flying to Jakarta, Indonesia, to meet Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to topple the government of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

When asked whether he would vote to support Anwar in the coming confidence vote in Dewan Rakyat, Ismail said they would vote as instructed by the party president.

He told Sin Chew Daily he did not fly to Jakarta last Thursday to meet Muhyiddin, as some social media users had accused.

“If I did that, for sure the immigration department has the record,” he said.

“I have instructed my lawyer to take legal action against the rumor-mongers who accused me of taking part in the Jakarta Move.”

Ismail showed two of his Instagram posts to prove that he was having banana leaf lunch with media practitioners at a Petaling Jaya restaurant on December 8 just before he returned to his constituency in Bera, Pahang, for the Rainforest Challenge closing ceremony.

There were people accusing Ismail of “planning something” in Jakarta, saying he was in the Indonesian capital to attend a “Jakarta Move” meeting said to be attended by Muhyiddin also.

Ismail’s absence from the Umno supreme council meeting last Thursday night has sparked speculations.

He has since clarified that he was in Malaysia attending an event.