Terengganu still uncertain as Ahmad meets Najib

By Shannon Teoh (The Malaysian Insider)

PUTRAJAYA, April 16 — The ten Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen in Terengganu may have ended their boycott of the assembly following orders by Datuk Seri Najib Razak, but a hastily arranged meeting between the prime minister and mentri besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said here today is a clear sign that uncertainty persists.

Ahmad declined to comment on his presence in Putrajaya, telling swarming reporters that “I have to see the PM first,” when he made a surprise appearance at the prime minister’s office today.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin also arrived at Najib’s office as Ahmad waited for the meeting to begin.

Ahmad’s 13-month tenure as MB is on the rocks after the ten had boycotted the state assembly Tuesday in a bid to force his resignation.

Despite both Najib and Muhyiddin moving quickly to quell the uprising, The Malaysian Insider understands Ahmad’s position as mentri besar still appears untenable amid talk that his own party men were planning to table a no-confidence vote against him.

It is understood that the prime minister will give him just a few weeks to regain the backing of BN lawmakers in the state or else he will be asked to quit as MB.

Chances of him regaining their support are slim as he has already been accused of running a “mini-dictatorship.”

The Terengganu palace, which backed his appointment last year, has also taken a neutral position in the crisis. The Malaysian Insider understands the palace has no objection to his removal if he does not command the support of a majority of BN assemblymen.

The seeds of this revolt were planted when Ahmad was put in place as BN’s mentri besar soon after last year’s general elections in place of the incumbent Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.

Idris was not reappointed due to friction with the Terengganu palace.