Ahmad Said – starting trouble, ending trouble
BY VALERIE CHIN
|
|
PETALING JAYA: Former Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said’s appointment back in 2008 wasn’t without controversy.
Ahmad’s appointment following the 12th General Election, by the Sultan of Terengganu Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, who was then also the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, was strongly opposed by the state’s 22 Barisan Nasional assemblymen and former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Abdullah had, at the time, asserted that the appointment of Kijal assemblyman Ahmad over the Barisan’s preferred candidate Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh was unconstitutional as the sultan was bound to accept the candidate supported by a majority of the state’s assemblymen.
To add to the conflict, PKR’s national youth wing lodged a police report against Abdullah and his then deputy, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, and the 22 Barisan assemblymen who supported Idris for alleged seditious statements against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The impasse lasted nearly a month and was finally resolved when Abdullah accepted the Sultan of Terengganu’s appointment of Ahmad.
Ahmad was reappointed Mentri Besar following the the 13th General Election in which Barisan won 17 state seats against Pakatan Rakyat's 15, also winning half of the eight Parliamentary seats in the state.
On Monday, Ahmad Said quit the party hours after he was replaced by Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman as Terengganu Mentri Besar.
The former Mentri Besar and Kijal assemblyman was soon joined by Ajil assemblyman 'Ghazali Taib to become independent representatives. On Tuesday morning, Bukit Besi assemblyman Roslee Daud quit Umno.
Bestfbkl - All this is about personal gain of a few at the highest level, without taking the majority of rakyat's need in mind.
