GE15: the PM has met the Agong, will Parliament be dissolved in 48 hours?

Dissolution of Parliament remains one of the hottest topics, both from aunts and uncles in coffee shops to political observers.

But one thing for sure, the date is still unclear.

Other unanswered questions include when will it be announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Will it happen within 48 hours from now?

According to sources, Ismail Sabri had met the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah after the National Maulidur Rasul Celebration Ceremony 1444H/2022, this morning (Sunday).

Previously, Ismail Sabri also emphasised on the power to propose the dissolution of parliament is entirely under the Prime Minister's jurisdiction and that no political party can influence such a decision.

The Bera MP again stressed that the dissolution of Parliament is under the authority of the Prime Minister, who will then presented the matter to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

And based on the Article 55 of the Federal Constitution, His Majesty has the absolute power to suspend or dissolve Parliament.

If the announcement of the dissolution of parliament is made either tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, this scenario is more or less the same as the situation in 1999.

During that time, Parliament was dissolved after the presentation of the budget, which happened during the then-administration of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The former fourth and seventh prime ministers announced the dissolution of parliament on November 10, 1999, after the budget was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on October 29 in the same year.

Logically, some indications hinting GE15 will be held in the near future are inadvertently visible.

The first example, the Constitution (Amendment) Act (No.3) 2022 (Act A1663) which prohibits House of Representatives Members from changing parties, came into effect on October 5.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law), Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, said Act A1663 was approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on August 31 and gazetted on September 6.

Moreover, six Ordinances and Emergency Proclamations to postpone the By-Elections (PRK) of the Batu Sapi, Gerik parliamentary seats and the Bugaya State Assembly (DUN), which were declared in November and December 2020, were terminated with effect last Thursday.

The cancellation order is named as Emergency Ordinance 2022 (Essential Powers) and (Revocation) and Emergency Proclamation (Revocation) 2022 for Parliament P.185 Batu Sapi, Sabah; as well as Emergency Ordinance (Essential Powers) (No. 2) (Revocation) 2022 and Emergency Proclamation (No. 2) (Revocation) 2022 for Parliament P.054 Gerik, Perak.

At the end of the day, all of this has not been resolved as of today.

We will just wait in the near future, perhaps within 48 hours from now.

What does the rakyat want?

This is the question that needs to be 'enthroned' in the souls of politicians across all political parties, What does the rakyat wants?

The voice and will of the people in each area and locality needs to be the basis of the actions and responses of our political players.

If Parliament is dissolved, the people's willingness to exercise their responsibility to vote will be the heart of the democratic process.

The people will be the judges who determines who should be chosen to 'lead' and to care for the welfare and safety of the society and nation. -- AWANI