Ahmad Said had agreed to being replaced a year ago, Umno veep says
(Malay Mail Online) – Former Terengganu mentri besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said should have gracefully stepped down from the post, as it was part of an understanding reached with the party’s top ranks a year ago, said Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.
Shafie said Ahmad was sworn in as mentri besar on May 9 last year amid strong opposition from state representatives and party grassroots.
The New Straits Times (NST) quoted Shafie saying that Ahmad was given a year-long extension by Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“At that time the political situation in Terengganu was quite precarious. There were some who agreed (to Ahmad’s continuing as the Mentri Besar) and they were some who disagreed.
“To avoid the situation from worsening, it was agreed between the prime minister and Ahmad that he would remain in his position for one year,” Shafie was further quoted as saying.
Shafie insisted that Ahmad was aware of the terms and should not be claiming that it was insensitive to replace him before his daughter’s wedding reception on May 17.
Ahmad quit Umno and turned independent hours Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman was sworn in as the new Mentri Besar of the oil-rich coastal state.
The embattled lawmaker claimed he had asked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to allow him to step down as mentri besar after the wedding reception but the Umno president had reportedly disregarded the request as a “personal matter”.
“That (the wedding) is his own matter. The understanding concerns government matter. And, we did not know about the wedding plans because it was not stated earlier nor was it in the understanding reached last year,” insisted Shafie, who is also the Semporna MP.
Ahmad, who is the Kijal assemblyman, was blamed for the Barisan Nasional’s (BN) weakest polls performance in a decade.
BN managed to hold on to the state by 17 state seats against PR’s 15 seats in last year’s general election.
Ajil assemblyman Ghazali Taib announced his resignation shortly after Ahmad, followed by Bukit Besi assemblyman Roslee Daud reducing BN’s numbers from 17 to 14, plunging the state into a political mayhem.
Roslee, however, withdrew his resignation letter last night and that the Umno leadership is persuading Ghazali to also retract but no official statements have been issued.
If Roslee returns to Umno, BN will tie with Pakatan Rakyat’s 15 elected representatives in the Terengganu Legislative Assembly, with Ahmad and Ghazali as independents.
New MB Ahmad Razif arrived at work this morning and insisted that dissolution of the state assembly was not necessary.
He is expected to meet with Najib in Putrajaya today to discuss the state administration’s predicament.
