Terengganu deadlock as Ahmad Said quits Umno hours after resigning as MB
Terengganu is facing a political deadlock today as Datuk Seri Ahmad Said and an Umno assemblyman turned independent hours after the headstrong menteri besar resigned to make way for Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman yesterday.
The Kijal assemblyman's resignation from Umno together with Ajil assemblyman Ghazali Taib now puts the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) equal with Pakatan Rakyat (PR) with 15 representatives each in the 32-seat assembly – a first in Malaysia.
Ahmad, who first became MB in 2008, also said that more Umno assemblymen are expected to quit the party in coming days – causing a political headache for party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who has been under attack for a lacklustre leadership after the 13th general election (GE13) last year.
"InsyaAllah (God willing), there will be more (who will resign)," he was quoted as saying by the Malaysiakini news portal.
Ahmad and Ghazali resigned from the ruling party within hours after Razif was sworn in as menteri besar, confirming speculation that at least two Umno menteris besar would be replaced a year after GE13.
A copy of Ahmad's resignation letter was published by the Astro Awani portal. It is understood that the Kijal assemblyman will meet the media later today to explain his resignation from Umno.
Ahmad told the news portal this morning that he quit as he was disappointed with Najib's decision to drop him yesterday.
"I have worked in Umno for a long time. I told the PM that my child's wedding reception is on May 17 and asked for the change of MB to happen after that.
"He told me that was a personal matter, so I told him not to blame me if I quit the party," he was quoted as saying by the news portal.
Ahmad hit the headlines recently for a controversial official visit to Antarctica ostensibly to study climate change in the ice-bound continent – which is different from the sun-kissed east coast state.
In the May 5 general election last year, BN won 17 state seats against PR's 15, and also captured half of the eight federal seats in the oil-rich state.
Razif, the Seberang Takir assemblyman, took his oath of office before Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Syarqiyyah in Cendering at 9.25pm yesterday.
His appointment came just hours after BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor officially confirmed Ahmad had sent his resignation letter as menteri besar.
By convention, most politicians have to sign undated resignation letters before taking up government posts in Malaysia.
Ahmad, who controls a faction in Umno Terengganu, was sworn in as MB in March 2008 despite Umno confirming that Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh would return to the post.
Idris is now Education Minister II in Najib's cabinet.
Last year, the Election Commission (EC) said at the Kuala Besut by-election that it could not interfere if there was a hung state assembly in Terengganu because of the slim BN win, saying it was up to the political parties to settle the issue. – May 13, 2014.
