[UPDATED] Anwar arrives at Istana Negara for audience with king

KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived at Istana Negara here at 8.22am for his audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Bernama, in a tweet, reported that the audience is believed to be on the appointment of the new cabinet and that Anwar could be presenting the names of his picks to the king.

The Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman last night told people at a meet and greet session in Sg Long, Kajang, that the Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, had granted him an audience at Istana Negara at 8am today.

He also said he hopes to announce the cabinet lineup “in two or three days’ time”, adding that he had to resolve issues with component parties in the government “because we have to quickly form the cabinet and get the consent of the king”.

PM @anwaribrahim tiba di Istana Negara pada 8.22 pagi dipercayai bagi mempersembahkan senarai nama cadangan Menteri Kabinet kepada YDP Agong

📹 Adil Muzaffar | BERNAMA pic.twitter.com/RfYjoYUoUC

— BERNAMA (@bernamadotcom) December 2, 2022

Later today, Anwar will be in Perak for an audience with the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah at Istana Kinta at 10am.

After that, he is scheduled to hold a walkabout and a meet and greet session at the Tg Rambutan market in Tambun, visit the Manjoi Health Clinic site as well as perform Friday prayers and attend a kenduri rakyat (community feast) at Masjid Muhammad Al Fateh at Taman Jati in Ipoh.

It will mark his first visit to Tambun, his constituency, since winning the seat in the 15th general election, and since being sworn in as the country’s 10th prime minister on November 24th.

Media have been speculating in the last few days on cabinet appointments, and also when Anwar will name them.

Many have noted the difficulty of this challenge as he will have to ensure the appointments are acceptable to the political components in his government, which includes former arch-rival Barisan Nasional (BN).

PH, BN, Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Gabungan Rakyat Sarawak are forming the government together after the king decreed that a unity government be formed following GE15, which resulted in a hung Parliament.

Anwar’s audience with the king was about under an hour, and he left the palace at 9.15am, Bernama reported later. – The Vibes, December 2, 2022