23 T'ganu BN Assemblymen May Resign If Ahmad Said Is Made MB

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) -- The 23 Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen in Terengganu who are against Kijal assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Said being appointed the state's Menteri Besar may resign if the latter is sworn-in to the post.

Terengganu Umno liasion secretary Datuk Rosol Wahid in a press conference here Sunday night, said this might happen as his appointment did not get their support.

He said all 23 of them stood solidly behind former Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh to be appointed to the post.

"All of us, except for Ahmad Said have stated our unequivocal support for Idris based on the decision made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for him to be appointed the Menteri Besar of Terengganu. It means no other candidate has been proposed for the post," he said.

According to him, there is no reason why Idris should not be chosen as he had done a fine job in administering the state the last four years.

"What happened this morning in Istana Tetamu did not have our agreement and this is different from the case of Perlis. Ahmad Said is alone in this matter," he said.

Sunday morning (March 23), Ahmad Said received his appointment letter to be the Menteri Besar from the head of the Terengganu Regency Advisory Council.

Tengku Sri Panglima Raja Tengku Baderulzaman witnessed by two other members of the council, namely Tengku Sri Laksamana Raja Tengku Sulaiman Sultan Ismail and former Federal Court judge, Datuk Abdul Kadir Sulaiman.

The closed-door ceremony was also attended by six members of the Terengganu royal household, State Secretary Datuk Mokhtar Nong, State Legal Advisor Mohamad Sekeri Mamat and Terengganu police chief, Datuk Ayub Yaakob.

Commenting on a remarks by Terengganu Umno deputy liasion chief Datuk Tengku Putera Tengku Awang that most of the Umno divisions in the state supported Ahmad's appointment, Rosol said some of those named had denied it.

"I met the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister earlier and two or three division heads denied what was said by Tengku Putera.

"With me were Kuala Terengganu Umno chief Senator Datuk Wan Farid Wan Salleh, Kuala Nerus Umno chief Datuk Mohd Nasir Ibrahim Fikri and Setiu Umno chief, Datuk Mohd Jidin Shafiee," he said.

Asked if their (the 23 assemblymen's) action could be seen as challenging the monarchy, Rosol said this did not arise as they were merely following the party's and federal constitution and the wishes of the party president, apart from being in line with the state constitution.

"Sunday morning before the letter of appointment was issued to Ahmad, we had gone to the palace to present two letters and a memorandum to the latter although we were not allowed in," he said.

He said copies of the letter warning Ahmad not to accept the appointment were also given to Raja Tengku Baderulzaman.

Among others the letters stated that Ahmad Said's Umno membership would automatically become null and void if accepted the appointment, he said. Umno's Supreme Council is expected to deliberate the matter on Thursday. Ahmad's swearing-in date has yet to be fixed.

BERNAMA