KUALA LUMPUR – Caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will address the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s “disappointment” over current political conditions leading to the dissolution of Parliament earlier today.
According to Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, the matter had been raised during the party’s political bureau meeting this evening.
“I think (Ismail Sabri) will provide a response (to the Agong’s concerns) within one or two days,” he told reporters at the Umno headquarters here prior to attending the party’s Supreme Council meeting.
“During the (Umno political bureau) meeting, we asked (Ismail Sabri) what the Agong meant (in his statement).
“(Ismail Sabri) would be the best person to answer what (the king) meant by ‘disappointed’,” Khaled added.
This, however, is in contrast with claims made earlier by Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, who said that the contents of the king’s statement had not been raised during the party’s political bureau meeting.
Ismail Sabri this afternoon announced the dissolution of Parliament, effective today.
Later, comptroller of the royal household of Istana Negara Datuk Seri Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin in a statement said the king felt he had no choice but to consent to the dissolution request, as His Majesty was “disappointed” with the current political situation.
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