Assemblymen’s action should not jeopardise BN’s position: Muhyiddin

(Bernama) – The action by 10 Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen of not attending the Terengganu State Assembly sitting today should not be to the extent of affecting BN's position as the ruling state government, said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The deputy prime minister said as a government entrusted by the people to rule the state, all quarters should work together and resolve whatever dissatisfaction they had.

Muhyiddin said he would obtain a report and meet Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said over the matter.

"It is their right to attend or not to attend (the state assembly sitting), but not to the extent of jeopardising BN's position in the assembly, for we are the government in Terengganu.

"Will their absence affect the assembly sitting? We want to find out the real situation," he said to reporters after attending a briefing by the Education Ministry's senior officers, here, today (14 April).

Earlier, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein had handed over duty to Muhyiddin who is also the new education minister.

Muhyiddin was asked to comment on the "extraordinary" action taken by the 10 BN assemblymen today in not attending the second day of the assembly sitting.

They were Muhammad Ramli Nuh, who is the assemblyman for Tepuh, Mohd Zawawi Ismail (Kuala Berang), Abdul Halim Jusoh (Permaisuri), Datuk Din Adam (Bukit Besi), Datuk Rosol Wahid (Ajil), Alias Abdullah (Alor Limbat), Zakaria Abdullah (Paka), Ramlan Ali (Jabi), Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh (Jertih) and Mohd Pehimi Yusof (Kota Putera).

Their action is believed to be linked to the threatening SMSes received by three of the assemblymen (for Permaisuri, Paka and Ajil) last night over the political crisis in the state.

This issue is also believed to have cropped up after the Menteri Besar made a statement that he would take stern action, including expelling BN assemblymen, if they tabled a no-confidence motion against him.

Muhyiddin described the situation as something of concern to him and of course to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak too, who is also the UMNO president and BN chairman.

"We don't want to see problems growing there. Something must be done to resolve the issues, whatever they are," he said.

Asked whether the federal government was satisfied with the performance of the Terengganu MB, Muhyiddin said: "He is the MB, and he is doing whatever he is supposed to do.

"I think beyond that, there could be some other issues and problems that we need to look at."