UMNO’S top five leaders met this afternoon to discuss the possible date for the 15th general election.

In a Facebook post, vice-president Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the meeting took place at 3.30pm.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is Umno vice-president, was also present.

Also in the frame with Ismail were party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, deputy president Mohamad Hasan and another vice president Mahdzir Khalid.

The Umno political bureau is expected to meet after the Top 5, followed by a Supreme Council meeting later this evening.

It was reported that the party’s Terengganu, Pahang, Perak and Selangor chiefs, Ahmad Said, Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, Saarani Mohamad and Noh Omar were seen entering through the lobby of Menaro Dato Onn, Umno’s headquarters at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur.

Quoting sources, The Malaysian Insight this morning reported that the Umno Supreme Council meeting tonight will decide the probable dates for the dissolution of parliament dissolution and the 15th general election, likely this November.

The next parliamentary meeting starts on Monday until November 29, with Budget 2023 to be tabled next Friday, but it is widely expected parliament will be dissolved as early as October 12.

“Parliament will be dissolved by the second week of October and polls will take place a month after that,” Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders told The Malaysian Insight on condition of anonymity.

The Barisan Nasional government under Dr Mahathir Mohamad made a similar move in 1999, tabling the budget and then dissolving parliament to pave way for a general election.

Ismail, who returned last night from the United Arab Emirates, hinted on September 17 that a general election would be held soon pending discussions with top Umno leaders. – September 30, 2022.