Ismail Sabri leaves Istana Negara after spending about an hour with the King

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob left Istana Negara at 4.45pm on Thursday (Oct 6) without addressing the media gathered outside the gates to the palace.

Leaving the Istana Negara grounds in a white SUV at 4.45pm, the premier kept mum and only waved at the media from inside his car.

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The weekly meeting took less than an hour, though it was ealrier speculated that Ismail Sabri would seek for the dissolution of Parliament to pave the way for the 15th General Election.

Earlier, the prime minister downplayed his 4pm meeting with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, stating that this was his weekly pre-Cabinet audience with the King.

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“The discussions will be on issues that will be discussed in Cabinet and papers that will be presented,” he said.

Earlier Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Affendi Buang and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani were also seen arriving for an audience with the King.

Both were reported to have left the palace shortly after 3pm on Thursday.

Members of media had been gathering at the main entrance of the palace from as early as noon Thursday, hoping to get hints on the results of the meeting.

The meeting with the King was closely watched as many are anticipating that the Prime Minister would seek dissolution of Parliament.

The current Parliament term will end in July 2023.