KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman Datuk Mohamad Hassan has left Istana Negara following an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah.
The Rembau BN Member of Parliament left the palace after spending some 45 minutes at the palace.
He was part of the delegation of BN and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leaders called for an audience with the King
Still in Istana Negara is BN Chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as well as GPS leaders - Datuk Seri Richard Riot from Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak (SUPP), Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang from Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) as well as Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof dan Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).
Also present is Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun. and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.
The meeting with the party leaders is believed to be part of the ruler's meeting with 30 BN Members of Parliament this morning, related to the formation of the next federal government.
Meanwhile, police presence at Istana Negara has been beefed up today more personnel being deployed compared to previous days, with the light strike force also maintaining its vigil.
As part of the security beef-up, vehicles have also been prohibited from entering and exiting in Jalan Semantan.
The move was taken following the presence of political parties supporters near Istana Negara yesterday.
The GE15 on Saturday ended with no party getting a simple majority of 112 seats in the 222-seat Parliament to form the new government.
Pakatan Harapan got 82 seats, followed by Perikatan Nasional (73), BN (30), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (22), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (six), Warisan (three).
Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) and Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) secured one each, while the independents, two.