PM not meeting Agong today, says Istana Negara

Istana Negara has denied a report claiming that Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob will be meeting the Yang di-Pertuan Agong today to request the dissolution of Parliament.

(FMT) – “(It’s) fake news. Tuanku is still in Singapore,” Comptroller of the Royal Household Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin told FMT in a WhatsApp message.

Meanwhile, a source close to Ismail said the prime minister’s schedule is “packed with meetings” today.

The source told FMT Ismail had no scheduled meetings at Istana Negara for the next few days.

Quoting blogger Zaharin Yasin, Sinar Harian had reported that Ismail was set to have an audience with the King today.

The report said he would be accompanied by Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan, representing Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

When contacted, Ahmad Maslan also dismissed the report. “Who said that? Zaharin? Hasn’t he been fired?” he asked.

On Friday, Ahmad had announced that Zaharin’s Umno membership had been terminated with immediate effect for violating the party’s ethics.

Zaharin, the former Bandar Tun Razak Umno division secretary, is known for his critical comments against Zahid.

Ahmad also said the Umno Supreme Council agreed that Parliament should be dissolved “soon” for elections this year

He said Ismail had been given the discretion on proposing a date to the King for the dissolution of Parliament.

The current Parliament’s term runs until July 2023 and a general election must be held by mid-September at the latest.

However, some Umno leaders have pressed Ismail, who is a party vice-president, to call for early elections.