Ismail headed to the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur at 4pm, Berita Harian reported.

According to the report, the meeting may have been to discuss the dissolution of Parliament.

The “top five” refers to president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, deputy president Mohamad Hasan, and the three vice-presidents, Khaled Nordin, Mahdzir Khalid and Ismail himself.

Umno has ramped up calls for the 15th general election to be held this year.

Earlier today, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah granted Ismail an audience amid speculation the latter would raise the issue of the dissolution of Parliament, paving the way for GE15.

Ismail reportedly said he would present the proposed date for the dissolution of Parliament during his audience with the King today, but only “if time permits”.

Malaysiakini, however, reported the Comptroller of the Royal Household Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin as saying Ismail’s audience with the King was just a pre-Cabinet briefing and that the date for the dissolution of Parliament was not discussed.