Most appeared to be in high spirits, taking the time to wave to the scores of photographers awaiting their arrival. Even the few top guns who came in their own cars wound down windows to wave, in what seemed to be a sign that their man had won the battle to become prime minister.
The 114 MPs who are said to be backing Ismail were summoned for audiences with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in batches, with the first busload of waving Umno lawmakers, including former prime minister Najib Razak, arriving at 10:37am.
Minutes later at 10:42, another bus arrived carrying MPs from Bersatu.
Among those spotted on the first bus were former vaccination minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Tanjung Karang MP Noh Omar and Arau MP Shahidan Kassim, while former special functions minister Redzuan Yusof and independent Julau MP Larry Sng could be seen through the windows of the second.
According to Umno’s Jempol MP Salim Shariff, the MPs were called to meet the King individually, and were asked to introduce themselves, their constituency and reveal the candidate they were supporting.
Both buses left by noon, with Najib leaving in his own car.
A third bus, also packed with Bersatu MPs, arrived at 12.47pm, with Jeli MP and former minister in the prime minister’s department (economic affairs) Mustapa Mohamed among them.
Shortly after, more Umno MPs arrived by bus including Ismail, the man many believe has the numbers to become Malaysia’s 9th prime minister. Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi arrived later by car at 1.47pm.
Zahid left by 2.22pm along with the second busload of Bersatu MPs, just as another bus arrived, carrying other Barisan Nasional MPs, including former transport minister and MCA president Wee Ka Siong.
Also aboard the bus were MPs from Gabungan Parti Sarawak, PBS and STAR, as well as several independents.
The final batches of MPs arrived at 2.38pm, with one bus said to be carrying all of PAS’ MPs arriving alongside another carrying Bersatu parliamentarians, including former international trade and industry minister and Gombak MP Azmin Ali.
Then at 2.50pm, the final MP to have an audience with the King arrived, former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, the man Ismail could soon succeed.
Speaking to reporters after Muhyiddin’s arrival, Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan reiterated that the time with the King was kept brief, with each audience only lasting around one or two minutes.
He did not respond to questions about whether Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah was supporting Ismail, and said the mandate to select the government would be returned to the people once the pandemic subsides.