PM Ismail is in Kuantan for a meeting with the Agong, as the country waits for the Cabinet announcement

Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has arrived at Istana Abdulaziz in Kuantan, Pahang, for a meeting with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, as Malaysians await the announcement of a new Cabinet.

The prime minister arrived at the east coast state this morning, and his convoy arrived at the state palace at 10.53 a.m., according to national news agency Bernama.

The focus of the talks is expected to be on Ismail's Cabinet, which the new prime minister has pledged to reveal this week.

Ismail was meant to give his ministerial proposal to Sultan Abdullah yesterday, but the meeting was postponed because the King is in Pahang, the state capital.

Prior to Ismail's appointment as prime minister on August 20, the King had called for a new government that cut across party lines, following the collapse of the previous Perikatan Nasional coalition government just 17 months after it wrested power from the Pakatan Harapan coalition, which had lasted 22 months.

Ismail has being pressured to form a Cabinet as soon as as, since the country has been dealing with Covid-19 outbreaks that have surpassed 20,000 cases per day, wreaking havoc on the economy due to rising death tolls and protracted lockdowns.