T’ganu MB Ahmad Said's trouble aint over yet

Malaysiakini reported that embattled Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said (picture right) is being pressured to step down from his post.

The number of state assemblymen who wants him to go has increased to 18 from 10 last week.

The 10 state assembylmen had boycotted the state assembly sitting but returned to the assembly on the last day after being instructed to do so by Prime Minister Datuk SeriNajib Abdul Razak.

They were said to be involved in a plan to move a motion of no-confidence against the Menteri Besar who is said to have run the state like a dictator and has failed to deliver.

BN has 24 seats in the 32-state assembly. The remaining are PAS's.

When asked then on the latest political development in Terengganu, Datuk Najib described it as “something that is not unusual“ adding that there was no tension in the state and the issue was manageable.

“It is not a full-blown political crisis. It is not something unusual; we can manage,” he was quoted as saying.

However, it is learnt that Datuk Najib had separate meetings with Datuk Ahmad and former Menteri Besar Datuk Idris Jusuh - the man said to be behind the move to oust the current Menteri Besar - to solve the political mess in the state.

The Umno president is said to have given Datuk Ahmad a one-month dealine to prove that he has the support to lead the state.

Pressure piles on T'ganu MB to step down -Malaysiakini
Muda Mohd Noor & Rahmah Ghazali Apr 20, 09 12:45pm

Pressure is mounting against embattled Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Said to step down from the post which he assumed under controversial circumstances after the general election last year.

The number of Umno/BN state representatives who want Ahmad to step down now has increased to 18. Until last week the number of elected Umno representatives against Ahmad stood at 10

BN/Umno has 24 seats in the 32-seat state assembly. The remaining eight are with opposition PAS.

BN Terengganu backbenchers club secretary Alias Abdullah said today those opposing Ahmad included several state executive councillor members.

"However, I cannot divulge the names of these exco members, (in order) to safeguard their positions," he told Malaysiakini.

With this figure in hand, the group now has sufficient numbers in the assembly to call for a vote of no-confidence against Ahmad.

Alias, also the Alor Limbat state representative, added that he would be forwarding this latest development to the Umno top leadership to stabilise the political crisis in the east coast state.

He reiterated that the party will make "the best decision for the people's interests" now that they have stronger support on their side.

Palace's favoured candidate

Ahmad has come under tremendous pressure from his own party members to relinquish the post.

Last week 10 Umno elected representatives boycotted the state assembly sitting and only returned to the assembly after being instructed to do so by party chief and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Ahmad replaced Idris Jusoh as the menteri besar last year despite the party leadership preferring the latter.

Although Ahmad did not have the support of most elected representatives, he was favoured by the Terengganu palace.

Najib last week had separate meetings with Ahmad and Idris to find a solution to the problem in the state.

It is learnt that Najib has given Ahmad one month to prove that he has the support to lead the state.

Ahmad had also cancelled his official 10-day visit to Russia and Ukraine to sort out the mess in Terengganu.