Parliament dissolution question overshadows budget tabling

Even as Budget 2023 was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat today, the question on many people’s minds remains to be on the dissolution of Parliament.

This comes after a week of intense speculation that Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob would seek the dissolution of Parliament from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong this week, before the tabling of Budget 2023.

Taking to Twitter, Subang MP Wong Chen said at the end of Zafrul’s two-hour budget presentation today, many MPs shouted: “Dissolve”.

Meanwhile, Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan also took to Twitter on being asked by some people about the dissolution of Parliament as he was leaving the Dewan Rakyat earlier.

“Taking pictures at Parliament with reporters and photographers. It is not always that we get to wear baju Melayu to the Dewan Rakyat.

“There were some who asked, when (will Parliament) dissolve?” Ahmad said.

Yesterday, the prime minister was granted an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah after the latter visited the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre.

Malaysiakini later reported that the date to dissolve Parliament was not discussed during Ismail Sabri’s audience with the Agong, according to a source.

Twelve Perikatan Nasional ministers have written to His Majesty, urging him not to agree to dissolve Parliament because the focus should be on ensuring the people’s welfare.

Malaysiakini also reported that the Agong was concerned about holding the polls amid the northeast monsoon season when briefed on the potential year-end floods.

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