[UPDATED] Ismail Sabri concludes audience with Agong

KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has concluded his audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara.

His convoy was spotted at the palace main gate at 3.50pm and he then left at 4.45pm.

He waved at the press from inside his car as his convoy slowly made its way out of the palace’s main gate.

He, however, did not respond or react to the questions by the media.

There has been a flurry of excitement right outside the main gate of the Istana Negara here as political observers and media personnel await the decision on the dissolution of Parliament.

Ismail Sabri was scheduled to have an audience with the Agong at 4pm today, amid speculation of the prime minister seeking consent to dissolve Parliament to make way for a general election.

At 3.50pm, prime minister @IsmailSabri60 arrives for his audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. pic.twitter.com/V1TvL66nRf

— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) October 6, 2022

The Vibes learnt that Ismail Sabri had attended a meeting with the Umno’s top four leaders – president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, vice-presidents Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

Ismail Sabri is also an Umno vice-president.

The details of the meeting, purportedly held at party headquarters in Menara Dato Onn here, were unclear, but it was presumed to be on the general election’s timeline.

More than 100 local and international media personnel have been on standby since noon at the main gate to catch a glimpse of Ismail Sabri’s entourage.

Earlier, Armed Forces Chief General Tan Sri Affendi Buang and his retinue arrived before 3pm at Gate 2 for an audience with the king and left shortly after.

Earlier, Ismail Sabri said that the proposed date to dissolve Parliament will be submitted to the Agong during this evening’s audience if time permits.

The latest from the prime minister comes despite his spokesman having reportedly said that Ismail Sabri will be having a “routine meeting” with the king amid pressure from his party to seek the dissolution of Parliament.

“Let’s see…if discussions go on until Maghrib (prayer time), it won’t be possible to discuss other matters,” said Ismail Sabri after checking out the final preparations for Budget 2023 at the Finance Ministry in Putrajaya.  

He added that his audience with the king is part of a weekly routine prior to the start of cabinet meetings.

The nation is also expecting the 2023 budget to be tabled at Parliament by Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz tomorrow afternoon. – The Vibes, October 6, 2022