PETALING JAYA: MPs who had an audience with the King at Istana Negara yesterday revealed that they were asked if they voted willingly for Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, without duress.

       Pontian MP and Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said that it was a straight forward session during the audience with the King.

       “Nothing about the Cabinet. It was specific to the verification of statutory declarations (SDs) supporting Ismail Sabri.

       “Each MP was given one to two minutes to state their name and respective constituency, and then declare whether or not they support Ismail without any compulsion,” said Ahmad.

       He stated this to the media camped outside of Istana Negara at an impromptu media conference by the road.

       Ahmad, who looked in high spirits, said the audience with the King yesterday was a sweet memory for him.

       “This is an important experience for myself and the 114 MPs supporting Ismail,” said Ahmad.

       He, however, did not answer questions by reporters over the absence of Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah in supporting Ismail Sabri.

       Other MPs, who did not want to be identified, from various parties including Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Sarawak and Umno said that the audience was held in “a court-like atmosphere” where the King questioned every MP one by one.

       “The King was accompanied by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali and Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun,” said one MP.

       “The King got each MP to sit 10 feet in front of him.

       “The AG and Chief Secretary were at the King’s sides as witnesses,” said another MP.

       Exactly 114 MPs from Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Perikatan parties of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, PAS and STAR met the King yesterday on the issue of the candidate for the next Prime Minister.

       The audiences were held in batches between 10am and 5pm.

       All the parties have stated that they preferred Ismail as the ninth Prime Minister, except for GPS.

       However, GPS’ Santubong MP Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar had earlier said that GPS leaned towards Ismail also.