Ismail Sabri arrives at palace

 

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong will meet with 114 MPs today, all of whom were previously part of or aligned to the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.

The monarch is expected to verify the MPs support for Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob to become prime minister.

We report on the developments.

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Zahid reaches Istana Negara

1.50pm: Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has arrived at the palace, separately from the rest of the Umno delegation.

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Ismail Sabri arrives at palace 

1.20pm: Prime minister hopeful Ismail Sabri Yaakob has arrived at the palace, aboard a bus with other Umno MPs.

Others spotted include Kuala Krau MP Ismail Mohamed Said. Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is supposed to be with this group of lawmakers meeting the king.

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Bersatu MPs enter Istana Negara 

1pm: A bus ferrying Bersatu MPs has arrived at the palace.

Among those on board is Jeli MP Mustapa Mohamed.

An Umno delegation including prime minister candidate Ismail Sabri Yaakob is also said to be en route.

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GPS still mum on PM choice

12.30pm: Speaking to reporters in Kuching, Sarawak, Petra Jaya MP Fadillah Yusof says that 17 GPS lawmakers, together with independent Lubok Antu MP Jugah Muyang had their audience with the king virtually today.

Fadillah says they met the king one by one to confirm the contents of their statutory declarations, and that it was signed willingly.

However, the GPS leader has again refused to reveal who the coalition is backing, saying that this would be up to the Agong to reveal.

Meanwhile, Fadillah says that Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing will be meeting the king in person, as he is currently in Kuala Lumpur.

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More MPs exit palace 

11.50am: More MPs have left Istana Negara.

The next batch of 25 lawmakers - mostly from Umno and Bersatu - is scheduled to meet the king at 2pm.

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Najib leaves Istana Negara 

11.35am: Pekan MP Najib Abdul Razak has left the palace. It is believed that he will be heading to the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex.

He was supposed to be at court at 9.30am for his 1MDB corruption trial.

After Najib exited Istana Negara, several other Umno lawmakers also left, including Ketereh MP Annuar Musa.

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Umno, Bersatu, independent MPs among 2nd batch to meet king

10.40am: Buses carrying several MPs, as well as an entourage of MPVs, arrive at the palace.

Among those spotted on one of the buses are Umno's Jempol MP Salim Sharif and Arau MP Shahidan Kassim.

This second batch of 25 MPs meeting the Agong includes a mix of Bersatu, Umno, and independent lawmakers.

They include Dr Xavier Jayakumar (Kuala Langat), Larry Sng (Julau), Khairy Jamaluddin (Rembau), and Najib Abdul Razak (Pekan).

Sng was on a second bus - believed to be ferrying Bersatu MPs - that arrived at the palace not long after the Umno lawmakers.

An earlier list had Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin and Gombak MP Azmin Ali scheduled for an 11am meet, but an updated schedule shows the duo will have an audience with the king later in the evening.

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East Malaysia MPs' meeting likely via videoconferencing 

10.10am: There has been no movement of MPs entering Istana Negara, indicating that the East Malaysia lawmakers are most likely having their audience over videoconferencing.

The most notable person to arrive at the palace earlier was Chief Secretary to the government Mohd Zuki Ali, and Attorney-General Idrus Harun.

Meanwhile, the opposition says it has not received an invite for an audience with the king.

East Malaysia MPs first on schedule

9.30am: The first batch of 24 lawmakers scheduled to meet the Agong is from East Malaysia.

This includes the 18 GPS lawmakers, and five Sabah Bersatu MPs.

It is not clear whether they will meet the king in person or do so via videoconferencing.

There had been some doubts yesterday as to whether GPS would follow through on supporting Ismail Sabri Yaakob as prime minister, after the coalition chose to keep mum about who they nominated to the king. - Mkini