Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob flexed his authority today, saying that no one can influence him in advising the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on when to dissolve Parliament.
This comes after the Umno supreme council - which he is a member of - declared last Friday that the general election should be held this year and that Ismail Sabri would be proposing a date to the Agong soon.
"The power to advise the Agong to dissolve Parliament is the prime minister's, and the Agong has the power to execute it.
"In the past, the prime minister would just announce the dissolution of Parliament.
"Other parties did not give their views or interfere. Even his own party did not (interfere), or spoke to the media (about when to dissolve Parliament)," Ismail Sabri told reporters in Shah Alam today.
He said this when asked about calls from Pakatan Harapan and PAS leaders not to dissolve Parliament before October.
On Harapan's memorandum of understanding with the government, Ismail Sabri said this would be nullified when Parliament is dissolved.
Intense speculation
There is intense speculation that the prime minister may advise the king to dissolve Parliament before Budget 2023 is tabled on Friday evening.
However, Ismail Sabri today downplayed any audiences he will have with the king as ordinary pre-cabinet briefings.
"Every week before the cabinet meeting I meet the Agong... The audiences are more towards cabinet meeting papers," he said.
Yesterday, a rumoured audience turned out to be false as the king was abroad.
However, His Majesty is believed to be back in the country and is slated to attend an event in Kuala Lumpur tonight.
Ismail Sabri, meanwhile, will be meeting Umno division chiefs at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur this afternoon. - Mkini
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