KUALA LUMPUR – The presence of the Dewan Rakyat speaker at the airport last night to send off the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to London could be the clearest indication yet that the announcement of the dissolution of Parliament could be made as early as today.
Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun was among those in the entourage at the Royal Air Force Base in Sg Besi to see off Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
Their majesties are on their way to London for an audience with King Charles III and to grace the launch of the regenerated Battersea power station. Their official visit is until October 16.
Also present were Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar and Deputy Senior Chief Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Sollehuddin Alyubi Zakaria, as well as senior members of the armed forces, navy, and air force.
The royal couple is travelling with their daughters, princesses Tengku Puteri Afzan Aminah Hafidzatullah, Tengku Puteri Ilyana, and Tengku Puteri Jihan Azizah ‘Athiyatullah.
The official flight took off at 9.30pm.
Yesterday afternoon, Al-Sultan Abdullah met Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in what sources say was a request by the prime minister to seek his majesty’s consent to dissolve Parliament.
If the Agong had consented, then his majesty would have signed the Instrument of Dissolution.
This would mean that having the speaker meet the king before his majesty goes abroad for a week is an indication that Parliament will soon be dissolved.
Anticipation is high that Ismail Sabri will make an announcement on the dissolution of Parliament tonight after a special meeting of the Umno Supreme Council. He is an Umno vice-president, and has been facing months of pressure from party chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to dissolve Parliament and hold a snap election.
The prime minister is incidentally scheduled to attend MIC’s national convention at 2.30pm, though it is doubtful he will choose this platform to announce the dissolution.
Two DAP leaders also seem to anticipate that Parliament will be dissolved to pave the way for the 15th general election.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, who just completed a four-state roadshow, said in a late night post on Facebook that he is on his way back to Kuala Lumpur in anticipation of Parliament being dissolved today.
Meanwhile, Bangi MP and former deputy minister of international trade and industry Ong Kian Ming, who is not defending his seat, bade goodbye to his constituents and welcomed his successor.
Last evening as a Member of Parliament for P102 Bangi? If so, it has been an honor serving the voters of Balakong, Kajang and Bangi for the past 4 1/2 years. Apologies for my shortcomings. I will be campaigning hard for my successor to defend the seat for DAP and PH.@syahredzan
— Ong Kian Ming ?? (@imokman) October 9, 2022
“Last evening as a member of Parliament for P102 Bangi? If so, it has been an honour serving the voters of Balakong, Kajang, and Bangi for the past 4 1/2 years. Apologies for my shortcomings. I will be campaigning hard for my successor to defend the seat for DAP and PH,” tweeted Ong.
He tagged lawyer and DAP central executive committee member Syahredzan Johan, who is expected to succeed him as a candidate.
Holding elections during the year-end rainy season is an unpopular move, with even the Agong calling on the government and people to prepare for the possibility of floods stemming from the coming monsoon season.
The king had made an unprecedented visit to the Meteorological Department on Thursday to be briefed on the coming wet season and preparations to face heavy rains and floods.
The visit took place before his majesty held an audience with the prime minister the same day.
Many had anticipated that the king’s reservations on holding polls during the monsoon would mean that elections will be pushed to next year.
The national budget for 2023 had also just been tabled in Parliament on Friday.
However, Ismail Sabri is said to be under pressure from his Umno colleagues to call for snap elections now. – The Vibes, October 10, 2022
