KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob this afternoon had an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
The audience with the king at Istana Negara was without the usual media fanfare outside the gates as the press corps had converged on the national-level Maulidur Rasul celebration at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur.
The New Straits Times was made to understand the prime minister sought the audience to get the king's consent for the dissolution of Parliament.
"The dissolution of Parliament could be as early as tomorrow," a source said.
It is also understood that the prime minister will send off the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for his special visit to the United Kingdom from tomorrow until Oct 16.
The king and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah's special visit to London includes a meeting with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on Oct 12.
The development occurred as Umno leaders received invitations to attend a special supreme council meeting tomorrow night.
In a letter dated Oct 7, party sources revealed that the meeting which is expected to start at 8pm. It will be chaired by Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
"Let us wait and see. The prime minister (Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob) may give a briefing (during the meeting tomorrow night)," the party sources said in short reply, without divulging details on the agenda scheduled for the meeting.
Umno executive secretary Datuk Sumali Reduan confirmed the special supreme council meeting tomorrow.
"Yes (the special supreme council meeting is taking place tomorrow)," he said in a short reply via WhatApp to Berita Harian.