Ismail told reporters the ministers from PAS and Bersatu were just following the orders of PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin.

However, he reiterated that the government he was leading was untenable as the 12 PN ministers were being pressured by their “boss”.

“The Bersatu president’s (Muhyiddin) influence on the ministers from the party is unavoidable. (The letter to the King) means they received orders from him.

“Although it was inappropriate, because the party ordered them to, they signed the letter. Hamzah Zainudin (the caretaker home minister) admitted to it. So, I don’t blame them for following the party’s instructions,” he said.

He said the constant pressure from Bersatu on his Cabinet would have disrupted the nation’s stability and that this could not go on any longer.

“So I dissolved (Parliament).”

Yesterday, Hamzah, the PN secretary-general, said the ministers had sent the letter to the King last week after the party instructed them to do so.

He said this was similar to how Ismail had followed his own party’s orders for Parliament to be dissolved to pave the way for GE15.

However, Ismail denied that the dissolution was due to pressure from Umno, saying it was because the government he was leading could no longer function well.

He also said it was to put an end to claims this was a “backdoor” government.

“The opposition should be thanking me because GE15 will be expedited so the people can choose the government they want,” he said.