The power to dissolve the Parliament and announce a new date for the next general election lies with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, not the prime minister, said Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He stressed that while the premier may advise the ruler on dissolving the Parliament, it is constitutionally wrong for him to announce a date for the next polls.
The prime minister was responding to DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke who urged the former against issuing flip-flop statements on GE15.
"It's good that if I have issued flip-flop statements so that they are not going to know when is the next general election," Ismail Sabri told reporters after launching the World Environmental Day at Taman Tugu in Kuala Lumpur.
"You may check with the previous statements made by the former premiers. Did anyone of them decide on a new date for the general election? No. If I announce a date for the election earlier, DAP will be happy as they can make preparation.
"As I said before, anything related to the election will be first discussed by Umno's top five leaders, Umno supreme council and BN supreme council. I will discuss the matter in the cabinet to seek a mandate for an audience with the ruler," he said.
"The Agong may consent or turn down if he disagrees with (my advice). So, I can't tell the exact date because it is constitutionally wrong for me to take over the authority of the ruler by announcing the date.
"Perhaps DAP does not respect the ruler but I respect the Agong and I adhere to the Federal Constitution," the prime minister added.
PM downplayed calls
On June 2, Loke urged Ismail Sabri to be consistent in his statement, particularly on the general election.
This came after the prime minister reportedly downplayed calls for an early election, citing the rise in food prices and other living costs.
"Ismail Sabri changed his tone in 48 hours while speaking at the BN Convention on June 1.
“He said he would not wait for even one more second to dissolve Parliament if BN was ready after being pushed and pressured by kleptocratic clusters to dissolve Parliament," Loke had said in a statement. - Mkini
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