PRIME Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is looking to submit the proposed date to dissolve parliament to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong during an audience with the king this evening.

He said this can be discussed should issues pertaining to the cabinet be concluded sooner.

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

It was earlier reported that the prime minister will have a “routine meeting” with the Agong at 4pm amid pressure from his party to seek the dissolution of parliament to pave the way for the next general election.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had earlier said that Perikatan Nasional (PN) ministers had sent a letter to the king objecting to a general election being held this year due to the forecast of a severe monsoon.

He said the letter was delivered to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong yesterday after a meeting of all the PN component parties.

“We have yet to receive a reply to that as of now,” the environment and water minister said at a press conference.

Reports said that the cabinet is divided over when parliament should be dissolved.

Umno leaders have been pushing Ismail, who is also party vice-president, to seek an audience with the king to dissolve parliament.

Opposition parties, however, have objected to Umno’s proposal, saying the general election can be appropriately conducted next year. – October 6, 2022.