KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 — Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and party vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob were both seen at the swanky St Regis Kuala Lumpur this afternoon amid intense speculation of new political alliances being struck to form a federal government.
First to arrive was Ismail Sabri. He arrived in a black Audi A8 at 2.58pm dressed in a brown batik shirt.
He told reporters he was there for a meeting but did not disclose further details.
Mohamad, better known as Tok Mat, arrived shortly.
Datuk Seri Dominic Lau, president of Gerakan, a component party of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition anchored by Bersatu and PAS, was also spotted inside the same hotel earlier at 2.40pm.
Others believed to be present included Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin and vice-president Datuk Seri Radzi Jidin.
After more than two hours, Ismail was observed leaving through the rear entrance together with other party leaders who attended the meeting without addressing the media.
Earlier today, it was reported that the meeting was for the PN coalition to finally make its pitch to BN for a political cooperation to form the next federal government and end the current impasse.
There have been conflicting accounts of how BN would ally itself, with some leaders claiming the coalition was decided on PH while others purported that it would switch to PN.
Before that, BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Mohamad and the coalition’s secretary general Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir had an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara.
Subsequently, Ahmad Zahid said that Agong has requested BN to join a unity government.
Istana Negara also issued a statement saying that Agong will meet with all the Malay Rulers at 10.30am tomorrow on the matter.
