The Yang di-Pertuan Agong's interview of 114 MPs today was to ascertain that they did not back Umno's Bera MP Ismail Sabri Yaakob under duress.
Two MPs who met with the Agong said the ruler met the MPs individually and asked them to confirm the contents of their statutory declarations in support of Ismail Sabri and that they had signed them voluntarily.
"The Yang di-Pertuan Agong called all MPs to verify the contents of their statutory declaration and to know whether we made the choice voluntarily.
"Eighteen of us (from GPS) confirmed that we have chosen a prime ministerial candidate and that it was done willingly by every MP," GPS' Petra Jaya MP Fadilah Yusof told journalists in Kuching.
Fadilah said all GPS MPs except for Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing met the ruler individually via video conferencing.
Tiong was in Kuala Lumpur and had met the king face-to-face with the rest of the MPs.
Fadilah did not disclose who GPS voted for but it is understood that they had chosen Ismail Sabri.
This was because only MPs in the majority were summoned to Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur today.
The 105 opposition MPs who backed PKR president Anwar Ibrahim were not invited.
Ismail Sabri's 114 MPs is three more than the 111 MPs needed for a simple majority.
Meanwhile, Umno's Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan also confirmed that the king wanted to know if their MPs had supported Ismail Sabri willingly.
"The purpose (of meeting the Agong) was to confirm before his majesty the statutory declarations made the other day and whether it was done willingly without any duress or the likes.
"For me personally, It was clear that I willingly proposed Ismail Sabri as the prime minister.
"I am confident of his abilities as I have known him for a long time," Ahmad told journalists in Kuala Lumpur.
Once the king verifies Ismail Sabri's support, he will convene a Conference of Rulers' meeting where he will confer with his fellow monarchs. - Mkini
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