BN still in power in Terengganu, says legal advisor

(Bernama) – The Barisan Nasional (BN) continues to hold power in Terengganu despite three of its assemblymen from Umno having declared themselves as independents, state legal advisor Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid said today.

He said that while the number of BN assemblymen had dropped from 17 to 14 and the opposition had 15 members in the state legislative assembly, the speaker was counted as a representative of the ruling state government, giving an equation of 15:15:3.

The three assemblymen who quit Umno to become independents are former mentri besar and Kijal assemblyman Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, who resigned from the post of chief executive yesterday, and assemblymen Ghazali Taib (Ajil) and Roslee Daud (Bukit Besi).

Azhar, when contacted by Bernama, said the speaker was counted along with the 14 BN assemblymen and so the BN remained in power in the state.

After Ahmad resigned as the mentri besar yesterday, Seberang Takir assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman was sworn in as the new menteri besar last night.

Azhar said his office was looking at state legislation in relation to the ongoing political developments.

Meanwhile, the Terengganu PAS Liaison Committee has convened a special meeting and state PAS commissioner Satiful Bahri Mamat said in a statement that “the necessary action is being taken” and “we will come up with the best solution to the crisis”.

PAS has 14 representatives in the state legislative assembly and PKR, one.