KUALA LUMPUR – The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has expressed disappointment with the current situation, saying it has given His Majesty no choice but to consent to the prime minister’s request to dissolve Parliament.
Comptroller of the royal household of Istana Negara Datuk Seri Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said that Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had thus agreed to the dissolution when he had an audience with caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob yesterday.
He said the meeting was held at noon, and was “unscheduled”.
“His majesty, in accordance with his powers as Yang di-Pertuan Agong as enshrined in Article 40(2)(b) and Article 55(2) of the federal constitution, gave his consent to the prime minister for Parliament to be dissolved.
“His majesty expressed his disappointment with the current political situation and his majesty had no choice but to consent to the prime minister’s request to allow the mandate to be returned to the people to choose a stable government,” Fadil said in a statement.
He added that the king also consented to the dissolution so that the Election Commission could take into account the northeast monsoon season which is forecast to start mid-November.
Ismail Sabri announced the dissolution of Parliament effective today, earlier this afternoon.
The incumbent Bera MP’s audience with the Agong yesterday took place hours before His Majesty left for an official visit to London until October 16.
By law, an election must be held within 60 days of the dissolution. It is widely speculated, however, that polling could be held in early November to avoid the peak of the year-end monsoon season. – The Vibes, October 10, 2022
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