THE Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s interview of 114 MPs today was to ascertain that they did not back Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob under duress, said MPs who completed the audience with the King at Istana Negara on Thursday (Aug 19) morning.
According to Malaysiakini, two MPs who met with the Agong said the ruler met the MPs individually and asked them to confirm the contents of their statutory declarations (SDs) in support of Ismail Sabri and that they had signed them voluntarily.
“The Yang di-Pertuan Agong called all MPs to verify the contents of their statutory declaration and to know whether we made the choice voluntarily.
“Eighteen of us (from GPS [Gabungan Parti Sarawak]) confirmed that we have chosen a prime ministerial candidate and that it was done willingly by every MP,” GPS’ Petra Jaya MP Fadilah Yusof told journalists in Kuching.
Fadilah did not disclose who GPS voted for but it is understood that they had chosen Ismail Sabri, as only MPs in the majority were summoned to Istana Negara today.
UMNO member and also Pontian MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan also confirmed similarly.
“For me personally, it was clear that I willingly proposed Ismail Sabri as the Prime Minister,” Ahmad Maslan said. “I am confident of his abilities as I have known him for a long time.”
Only MPs in the majority were summoned to Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur today.
The 105 opposition MPs who backed PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim were not invited. – Aug 19, 2021.
Photo credit: Malay Mail
