Terengganu Crisis: State BN can dissolve assembly or form coalition with Pas
(Bernama) – There are two options to the current crisis in the Terengganu Government, note political analysts.
Either the State Legislative Assembly can be dissolved or the Barisan Nasional (BN) should form a coalition government with PAS.
Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Social Science Study Centre deputy dean Dr S. K. Sivamurugan Pandian said the impasse could be resolved by dissolving the state assembly if the BN failed to persuade the three former Umno assemblymen who quit the party, to return to the fold.
Terengganu was thrown into a political quagmire after Kijal assemblyman Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, who resigned as menteri besar, quit Umno after his successor, Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman, who is also Seberang Takir assemblyman, was sworn in last night.
Ahmad Said’s decision prompted two more Umno assemblymen, namely Ghazali Taib (Ajil) and Roslee Daud (Bukit Besi), to follow suit. The trio have since declared themselves Independents.
This reduced the BN representation in the state legislative assembly from 17 to 14. PAS has 14 representatives in the assembly and PKR, one.
However, Terengganu legal adviser Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid said the BN was still the legitimate government as it commanded 15 seats in the House, with the inclusion of the Speaker which was counted as one seat.
He said the BN held the legitimacy since it held the reins after the 13th General Election (GE13).
Sivamurugan said the BN took a big gamble by replacing the menteri besar at this juncture as it did not enjoy a two-thirds majority in Terengganu, thus throwing the state’s political arena into disarray.
“We do not know what the actual agreement was, between the top BN leadership and Ahmad Said, but gauging the situation, it has led to a break-up in Umno,” he noted.
However, it was up to the parties concerned whether they want to patch up to reunite the party or otherwise, he said.
National Council of Professors’ Heritage and Socio-cultural History Cluster head Prof Datuk Dr Zainal Kling said Terengganu BN should consider exploring the possibility of forming a coalition government with PAS.
“No need to dissolve the state assembly as BN still has the legitimacy to hold the reins, but it should explore the possibility of bringing PAS into the government.
“This might be for the better as it can help strengthen the government, as well as bring unity among the Malays and Muslims, apart from becoming an advantage to Terengganu.
“If a coalition government is not an option, the dissolution of the state assembly is also not a sensible thing to do as it will expose BN to a bigger risk, even losing the state.
“So, it is better to hold on to the reins as a minority government,” he added.
National Council of Professors’ Heritage and Socio-cultural History Cluster head Prof Datuk Dr Zainal Kling said Terengganu BN should consider exploring the possibility of forming a coalition government with PAS.
“No need to dissolve the state assembly as BN still has the legitimacy to hold the reins, but it should explore the possibility of bringing PAS into the government.
“This might be for the better as it can help strengthen the government, as well as bring unity among the Malays and Muslims, apart from becoming an advantage to Terengganu.
“If a coalition government is not an option, the dissolution of the state assembly is also not a sensible thing to do as it will expose BN to a bigger risk, even losing the state.
“So, it is better to hold on to the reins as a minority government,” he added.
