Radzi said the PN ministers believed the focus should be on the people’s welfare at this time.

“I can confirm that we, the ministers from PN, have written a letter to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to ask that GE15 isn’t held soon,” Berita Harian quoted the education minister as saying.

Radzi, a senior minister in Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s Cabinet, also said his ministry had many structural matters to resolve and implement before the end of the current government’s term.

There are 31 ministers in Ismail’s Cabinet, of whom 13 are from Barisan Nasional, 12 from PN, four from Gabungan Parti Sarawak, and one each from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Parti Bangsa Malaysia.

While the prime minister is set to meet the King at 4pm today to brief him on Budget 2023 and tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting, speculation is rife that Ismail could advise the King to dissolve Parliament, paving the way for GE15.

Last Friday, Umno’s Supreme Council agreed that elections must be held within this year, with Ismail, a party vice-president, given the discretion on proposing a date to the King for the dissolution of Parliament.

Earlier today, several news outlets reported that PN ministers signed a joint letter to the King to oppose holding GE15 this year.

Bersatu and PAS Cabinet members, such as trade minister Azmin Ali and environment and water minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, had previously spoken against holding GE15 this year.