SHAH ALAM: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will have an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah on Thursday.
Confirming that he will have an audience with the King, the Prime Minister however refused to confirm whether he would present a date for the dissolution of parliament.
"Some people say (parliament dissolution will be done) before the (tabling of 2023) Budget, some say after budget on Monday.
"Others say this month or November and even next year," he said when speaking to reporters after attending the Idea Bina Negara (IBN) Anak Muda Keluarga Malaysia programme at Dewan Agong Tuanku Canselor, Universiti Teknologi Mara, here, today.
He said no political parties could influence the prime minister in dissolving the parliament to pave the way for a general election.
He said while anyone could provide suggestions and views on the matter, it would still be the prerogative of the Prime Minister.
"The date for the parliament dissolution has never been discussed openly in public, either within the party or with others.
"Only the PM (Prime Minister) has the power to suggest for the parliament to be dissolved, but the decision lies with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong."
Ismail Sabri also said that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the opposition would be valid until the parliament was dissolved.
He said that while the opposition could provide their opinions on the dissolution of Parliament, it could not influence the Prime Minister's decision.
"Of course, we listen to views of others, but the decision to suggest for it is still the prerogative of the prime minister."
The 14th parliament first sat on July 16, 2018 and will be automatically dissolved in June next year, with the general election (GE15) to be held before before Sept 14.
Several political leaders, including Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, had said that GE15 should not be expedited, citing economic concerns and the monsoon season that would affect the people and the government machinery.
On the future of the Pas-Umno political cooperation, Ismail Sabri denied that the negotiations between both Muafakat Nasional components had failed.
"The decision can't be decided after only one meeting. It will only fail if we say so."