COMMENT | Does anyone in the cabinet or in Umno know what they are doing? Caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is a prisoner of his own doing. He is trapped by his own party and imprisoned by his peers. Ismail Sabri's mixed messages spread only confusion.

One minute he was mister-tough-guy, proudly boasting that only he had the authority to call for the general election and that no one could influence him in advising the Agong when to dissolve Parliament.

He was ill-prepared when 12 Perikatan Nasional (PN) ministers presented the Agong with a letter objecting to the 15th general election (GE15) being held this year. Ismail Sabri stood firm and stressed that the legitimacy of his administration remained.

Two days later, he backpedalled and blamed the dissolution of Parliament on the same PN ministers.

What transpired behind the scenes?...