Dark clouds as rulers meet, National Palace repeats Aug 18 position

Dark clouds as rulers meet, National Palace repeats Aug 18 position

Heavy rain marked the beginning of the special Conference of Rulers today amid the ongoing search for a new prime minister.

The conference - which was not explicitly needed by law to determine the prime minister - was scheduled to begin at 2.30pm.

As of 3pm, the rulers of Kedah, Selangor, Terengganu, Perak, and Negeri Sembilan had already arrived at Istana Negara.

At about 11am, the Istana Negara Facebook page recapped the events of Aug 17, which saw the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Deputy Agong granting an audience to the heads and representatives of key political parties.

"Also present was the chief secretary to the government, the Dewan Negara president, the Dewan Rakyat speaker, and the attorney-general

"Prior to this audience, His Majesty had granted a similar audience to heads and representatives of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) online," said Istana Negara.

This audience was granted in view of Muhyiddin Yassin's decision to resign as prime minister, said Istana Negara.

Istana Negara said further details can be perused from its statement on Aug 18.

The Aug 18 statement summarises the Agong's decree to the political parties. They are:

• The head of government must be appointed based on the Federal Constitution.
• The public should not have to bear the burden of a protracted political crisis at a time when the country is dealing with health and economic crises.
• MPs have to be united and prioritise overcoming problems faced by the public.
• MPs must show commitment to serve the people.
• Most frontliners are fatigued due to the many new Covid-19 cases daily and the country's health facilities are in a worrying state.

Istana Negara said the Agong specifically decreed the new prime minister, once appointed, must convene Parliament and have his or her majority tested.

Ongoing policies on development, the Covid-19 response, vaccination programme, and economic recovery must be maintained, said Istana Negara.

The statement added that both the Agong and his deputy expressed their view that all MPs must work together to focus on current affairs.



"Before ending the audience, His Majesty reminded the heads and representatives of major parties that, to create harmony, the MPs who win must reach out to those who did not.

"Everyone must be prepared to work as a team. In other words, the winner does not take all, the loser does not lose all," said Istana Negara in the Aug 18 statement.


Kedah Sultan motorcade arrives at Istana Negara for the Conference of Rulers


Kedah Sultan motorcade


Selangor Sultan motorcade arrives at Istana Negara


Terengganu Sultan motorcade

Negeri Sembilan Grand Ruler motorcade

Perak Sultan motorcade