Tindakan ambil orang luar ‘tidak sedap didengar’

KUALA TERENGGANU – Pengerusi MIC Terengganu, R Suppiah menganggap pelantikan Datuk Seri Hishammuddin sebagai Pengerusi UMNO Terengganu baru bertujuan menyelesaikan kemelut dalam UMNO.

:R Suppiah berkata, Ahmad Said yang menjadi Pengerusi UMNO sebelum ini juga dilihat boleh menerima keputusan pihak atasan bagi memastikan masa depan parti itu lebih baik pada masa akan datang.

:“Ini sebagai bantuan untuk UMNO Terengganu. Sebelum ini, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi menjadi Pengerusi UMNO Terengganu dan saya rasa, ia untuk sementara waktu sahaja,” katanya.

:Bagaimanapun, R Suppiah menyifatkan tindakan mengambil orang luar sebagai ‘tidak sedap didengar’ kerana dilihat sukar untuk menjalankan peranan berbanding orang tempatan yang lebih dekat dengan anggota parti, suasana dan permasalahan yang berlaku.

:“Hishammuddin berada di Kuala Lumpur dan apa-apa hal mungkin perlu hubungi dia, justeru, saya rasa jika Ahmad yang memegang tugas berkenaan, mungkin tiada masalah tetapi ini adalah arahan pihak atasan,” katanya.
Sinar 30/04/09

Pemuda UMNO berdiri teguh di belakang Menteri Besar

CHUKAI - Jawatankuasa Pemuda UMNO Bahagian Kemaman akur dengan keputusan pucuk pimpinan yang meletakkan muka baru, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein selaku Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO Terengganu yang baru.

Ketua Pemuda UMNO Bahagian Kemaman, Mohd Hisyam Zubir berkata, barisan jawatankuasa Pemuda akan terus memberi sokongan moral kepada Timbalan Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO Terengganu, Datuk Ahmad Said walaupun jawatannya diturunkan.

“Kami akan berdiri teguh bersama beliau walau dalam apa juga keadaan dan jawatankuasa ingin merakamkan penghargaan kepada kedua-duanya atas pelantikan mereka sebagai Pengerusi dan Timbalan Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO Terengganu yang baru,” katanya ketika sidang media, di sini.

Mohd Hisyam berkata demikian selepas selesai mempengerusikan mesyuarat khas bersama jawatankuasa Pemuda UMNO Kemaman di Pejabat Perhubungan UMNO Bandar Chukai.

Menurut Mohd Hisyam, harapannya dengan pelantikan muka baru itu, segala kemelut dan provokasi yang timbul membabitkan Menteri Besar Terengganu, Datuk Ahmad Said dihentikan segera.

“Segala lompong harus ditutup, saya harap sebelum sesuatu keputusan dilakukan, pandangan semua pihak harus diambil kira oleh Hishamuddin,” katanya.

Sudah tiba masanya, pucuk pimpinan mengembalikan kegemilangan UMNO dan berjuang demi ketuanan Melayu di negara ini.

“Agenda rakyat harus diutamakan, kita mempunyai banyak tanggungjawab yang perlu dilaksanakan, kita harus meraih kembali sokongan dan kepercayaan masyarakat,” katanya.

Berhubung isu Sistem Pesanan Ringkas (SMS) berbaur ugutan bunuh kepada beberapa Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) di negeri ini, Mohd Hisyam menyerahkan tanggungjawab itu kepada pihak polis untuk mencari dalang berkenaan

“Mereka yang bertanggungjawab hendaklah dihadapkan ke muka pengadilan dan dikenakan tindakan tegas, pihak polis harus menyiasat perkara ini hingga ke akar umbi, hukuman yang dijatuhkan perlu menjadi tauladan kepada masyarakat supaya tidak mengulanginya lagi,” katanya.

Menurutnya, jawatankuasa Pemuda UMNO Kemaman akan terus menunjukkan taat setia kepada Ahmad kerana Menteri Besar itu masih memegang jawatan Ketua UMNO Bahagian Kemaman.

Sinar 30/04/09

Umno wings give MB full backing

NST Online » Local News

2009/04/16

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Umno wings and divisions here are giving their full backing to Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said, days after speculation that a vote of no-confidence was to be tabled by several Barisan Nasional assemblymen at the state assembly.

State Umno liaison deputy chairman Datuk Tengku Putera Tengku Awang said Umno Youth, Puteri and Wanita, as well as leaders of eight divisions, called him to declare their support.

He said Umno members were united despite rumblings on the ground that there were now two camps.

"After the 12th general election, there were camps in the party but we reconciled. Unfortunately, this incident has made it seem that there are still camps in the party."

Tengku Putera said Umno leaders would go to the ground to explain the situation to the grassroots and clear the air.
On Wednesday, both Jertih assemblyman and former menteri besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh as well as Ajil assemblyman Datuk Rosol Wahid denied there were plans to table a vote of no confidence.

Kuala Terengganu division chief Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh said irrespective of whether they liked Ahmad or not, BN assemblymen had to put aside their differences and work for the party.

"If one feels the leadership is weak, don't weaken him further.

"Discuss the matter with him to fix the problem," he said.

Sunday April 19, 2009

MB failed to explain raft of changes, says club

By R.S.N. MURALI

KUALA TERENGGANU: Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said’s failure to explain his drastic step of removing, demoting and redesignating senior officers of state-linked companies and agencies may be one reason for his fallout with the 10 Barisan Nasional assemblymen.

Another reason, claimed the Terengganu Barisan Nasional Supporters Club, was Ahmad’s decision to stop the uniform aid to schoolchildren.

Club secretary Alias Abdullah said what Ahmad did sowed resentment on the ground.

“I don’t think ties would have soured if the Mentri Besar had briefed the state assemblymen properly on the reasons for his actions,” said Alias, who is also the Alur Limbat assemblyman.

Ahmad had earlier removed and re-designated many state senior officers. They included chief executive officers of state-owned companies, while several top government officials felt that they had been demoted when they were re-assigned to head less important agencies.

Alias said the assemblymen were also caught in a bind when they could not explain why some aid to the constituents were stopped.

He claimed that Ahmad ignored the difficult situation of the state assemblymen.

Alias said the 10 assemblymen were also upset when three of their peers received death threats purportedly originating from the Mentri Besar’s office, leading them to stay away from the second day of State Legislative Assembly proceedings.

In another development, state police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Sukhri Dahlan said investigations into the death threats were still in progress.

Ahmad cancels Russia, Ukraine trip

NST Online » Local News

2009/04/20

Ahmad cancels Russia, Ukraine trip

KUALA TERENGGANU: Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said has cancelled a trip to Russia and Ukraine beginning today to witness a memorandum of understanding signing between the state government and several higher learning institutions there.

No official explanation has been given for the cancellation but it is widely believed to be over the on-going dispute between Ahmad and several assemblymen.

Ahmad was to have led a 16-man delegation on the 10-day trip to secure medical seats at several universities in Russia and Ukraine for state-sponsored students, as well as to meet Malaysian students there.

The delegation will now be led by state Higher Education Committee chairman Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman.

The New Straits Times learnt that the menteri besar was in Kuala Lumpur and will only return here tomorrow.
Last Tuesday, eight BN assemblymen were absent on the second day of the state assembly sitting, citing security concerns after three of them received death threats by SMS.

They, however, showed up on Wednesday after Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak ordered them to do so.

Ajil assemblyman Datuk Rosol Wahid, Datuk Din Adam (Bukit Besi), Alias Abdullah (Alur Limbat), Ramlan Ali (Jabi), Mohd Ariffin Abdullah (Paka), Muhammad Ramli Nuh (Tepoh), Mohd Zawawi Ismail (Kuala Berang) and Abdul Halim Jusoh (Permaisuri) failed to attend the sitting on the second day.

Thursday April 23, 2009

Terengganu Umno wants MB and Group of 18 to reconcile

KUALA TERENGGANU: Teren-gganu Umno has called for a truce between Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said and 18 Barisan Nasional assemblymen, known as the “Group of 18”, who are opposing him.

State Umno Liaison Committee secretary Datuk Rosli Mat Hassan said he would suggest this at the party’s monthly meeting as police had confirmed that the death threats sent via SMS to some of the assemblymen did not originate from the MB’s office.

“For unity and in the interest of the state Umno, we have to put aside our differences and reconcile. It is now proven that the SMSes were not sent by the MB’s private secretary (Wan Ahmad Wan Muda), so the squabbling must stop,” he said yesterday.

Rosli said he believed that some quarters who harboured malicious intentions were behind the SMS.

“Someone wanted to see chaos and pit the MB against the BN assemblymen,’’ he said.

Rosli said Ahmad was willing to talk with the disgruntled assemblymen.

He said the assemblymen concerned should also stop airing their grouses over the media.

He also expressed his willingness to brief the assemblymen on the rationale behind appointing a former ambulance driver as director of a state government-linked company.

“Yes, he was a driver in the late 1970s but don’t tell me he has to be in the same occupation all his life. The MB decided for him to helm the state timber corporation based on his proven track record as a businessman and not as a driver.’’

State Barisan Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Rosol Wahid said he remained suspicious as to the source of the SMS, as the handphone number matched that of the official in the MB’s office.

Rosol, one of the assemblymen who received the threatening SMSes, said the suspect detained by police could not have cloned the handphone number of the senior official.

“Police should be commended for a good job but the question now is how come the handphone number was exactly that of the MB’s private secretary,’’ said Rosol.

Embattled MB ready to reconcile with BN 'rebels'

NST Online » Local News

2009/04/24

KUALA TERENGGANU: Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said he would have no problems reconciling with an opposing group of state Barisan Nasional assemblymen if that was what it would take to ensure political stability and progress for the rakyat.

The embattled Kijal assemblyman said BN and Umno's struggles to uplift the status of the people were far more important than political pride.

"If we feel there are shortcomings among us, then we should address and rectify them. What is more important is the people," he told reporters after chairing an Umno state liasion committee meeting here on Wednesday night.

Ahmad is currently facing a rebellion from at least 10 BN state assemblymen who accuse him of dictatorship and making bad decisions. They want him replaced.

Political observers believe the numbers aligned to the "rebel camp" could be far higher.
The issue escalated last week when three assemblymen lodged police reports that they received threats via SMS, allegedly from one of Ahmad's senior official, not to proceed with a rumoured plan to table a motion of no-confidence against him (Ahmad) at the state assembly sitting.

The three, and the seven other "rebels", citing security concerns, boycotted the sitting the next day. However, on Tuesday night, police arrested a clerk from Seri Kembangan suspected of being the SMS sender.

The 31-year-old man is currently under investigation at the district police headquarters here, and police believe he is not linked to the menteri besar's office.

On his relationship with former menteri besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh and the rest of the opposing camp, Ahmad said on the contrary, there were no problems between them.

"I've got no problems. If I can be good friends with politicians from Pas, what more those from within Umno? They can see me anytime. My doors are always open."

Ahmad said he was facing the ongoing crisis calmly and with an open mind. He is also prepared to accept any decision made by the Umno leadership on his position.

Meanwhile, police have not ruled out more arrests if they uncover new evidence.

State CID deputy chief Superintendent K. Manoharan said the case was "high priority" due to the seriousness of the offence and the parties involved.

Friday April 24, 2009

Barisan and PAS claim they had Chinese interests at heart

KUALA TERENGGANU: The battle for Chinese votes intensified with both sides claiming to have done more for the community.

Former mentri besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said it was Barisan Nasional’s assemblymen who had blocked a land takeover bid at a Chinese temple here when the state was under PAS rule from 1996 to 2004.

Idris said a copy of the state government gazette, dated Feb 13, 2003, showed that the 450sq metre-land where the temple was situated was needed by the then state government for a flood mitigation project.

He was responding to a statement by state PAS deputy commissioner Datuk Wan Mutalib Embong, who told reporters earlier that PAS never intended to take over the temple.

Idris said PAS had done little for the people of Terengganu when it was in power. “But when we took over the government, we brought down the poverty rate by more than half, from over 15% to 6.5% in 2007.

“We also managed to improve the per capita income for the people in the state from RM1,984 to RM2,463 in the same period.”

He said the state government also wanted to take over 400sq metres of land in Balik Bukit where the state Mardi building stood.

Idris said the community would not be swayed by PAS’ promises now.

SENARAI PENGERUSI, TIMBALAN UMNO NEGERI

BERIKUT ialah senarai Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan Umno Negeri diumumkan hari ini:

PERLIS:

Pengerusi: Datuk Seri Md Isa Sabu (muka baru)

Timbalan Pengerusi: Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin

KEDAH:

Pengerusi: Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (muka baru)

Timbalan Pengerusi: Datuk Paduka Ahmad Bashah

PULAU PINANG:

Pengerusi: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (muka baru)

Timbalan Pengerusi: Datuk Zainal Abidin Othman

PERAK:

Pengerusi: Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir (muka baru)

Timbalan Pengerusi: Datuk Ahmad Husni Hanazlah

SELANGOR:

Pengerusi: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (muka baru)

Timbalan Pengerusi: Datuk Noh Omar

WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN:

Pengerusi: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (muka baru)

Timbalan Pengerusi: Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abdidin

NEGERI SEMBILAN:

Pengerusi: Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan

Timbalan Pengerusi: Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor

MELAKA:

Pengerusi: Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam

Timbalan Pengerusi: Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop

JOHOR:

Pengerusi: Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman

Timbalan Pengerusi: Datuk Dr. Latif Ahmad

PAHANG:

Pengerusi: Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob

Timbalan Pengerusi: Shakar Samsudin

TERENGGANU:

Pengerusi: Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein (muka baru)

Timbalan Pengerusi: Datuk Ahmad Said

KELANTAN:

Pengerusi: Datuk Mustapa Mohamed (muka baru)

Timbalan Pengerusi: Datuk Dr. Awang Adek Hussein

SABAH:

Pengerusi: Datuk Seri Musa Aman

Timbalan Pengerusi: Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak

Tiga Sayap Umno Besut Nafi Sokong Ahmad Said

April 22, 2009 17:28 PM

Tiga Sayap Umno Besut Nafi Sokong Ahmad Said

BESUT, 22 April (Bernama) -- Pergerakan Wanita, Pemuda dan Puteri Umno Bahagian Besut hari ini menafikan kenyataan Setiausaha Badan Perhubungan Umno Terengganu, Datuk Rosli Mat Hassan bahawa ketiga-tiga sayap parti itu menyokong kepimpinan Datuk Ahmad Said sebagai Menteri Besar.

Mereka juga dukacita dengan tuduhan oleh Rosli dalam laman web berita Malaysiakini semalam bahawa Ketua Umno Bahagian Besut Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh sebagai perancang sehingga berlakunya kemelut politik di Terengganu sekarang.

Ketua Pemuda Umno Bahagian Besut, Mahadi Musa berkata kenyataan Rosli itu satu pembohongan dan sengaja dibuat bagi menjatuhkan imej Idris dan Umno bahagian berkenaan.

Beliau berkata ketiga-tiga sayap parti itu sentiasa berdiri teguh di belakang Idris dan tidak menyokong kepimpinan Badan Perhubungan Umno Negeri sekarang.

"Kita kesal dengan kenyataan yang dibuat oleh Setiausaha Badan Perhubungan Umno negeri mengenai perkara tersebut," katanya.

Pada 14 April lepas, 10 Anggota Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Barisan Nasional (BN) Terengganu tidak menghadiri persidangan Dewan Negeri kerana mendakwa keselamatan diri mereka terancam.

Tindakan Adun itu berikutan khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS) berbentuk ancaman yang diterima Adun Ajil Datuk Rosol Wahid, Abdul Halim Jusoh (Permaisuri), dan Zakaria Abdullah (Paka) berhubung kemelut politik di negeri ini.

Pengiriman SMS itu dipercayai ekoran daripada kenyataan Menteri Besar untuk mengambil tindakan tegas termasuk memecat Adun BN jika mereka membentangkan usul tidak percaya terhadap beliau pada persidangan berkenaan.

-- BERNAMA

SMS: Polis ingin hubungi Ahmad Ramzi

KUALA TERENGGANU 24 April - Polis sedang mencari Datuk Dr. Ahmad Ramzi Mohamad Zubir bagi membantu siasatan kes penghantaran khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS) berbaur ancaman kepada tiga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Barisan Nasional (BN) baru-baru ini.

Ketua Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah negeri, Asisten Komisioner Mohd. Fauzi Abduri memberitahu, Ahmad Ramzi yang pernah menjadi Setiausaha Politik kepada bekas Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh dicari untuk diambil keterangan bagi melengkapkan siasatan kes berkenaan.

Menurutnya, usaha menjejaki beliau tidak berhasil apabila bekas calon Ahli Parlimen Marang pada Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-12, 8 Mac tahun lalu itu tiada di rumahnya.

"Ahmad Ramzi dicari kerana beliau antara yang mengeluarkan kenyataan kepada media pada malam ketiga-tiga ADUN itu menerima SMS ugutan berkenaan.

"Polis ingin mendapatkan kepastian sama ada Ahmad Ramzi turut menerima SMS berkenaan memandangkan beliau turut memberi kenyataan kepada media pada malam tersebut,'' katanya ketika dihubungi di sini hari ini.

Beliau mengulas perkembangan siasatan kes SMS berbaur ancaman yang diterima ADUN Ajil, Datuk Rosol Wahid, Abdul Halim Jusoh (Permaisuri) dan Zakaria Abdullah (Paka) pada 13 April lalu.

SMS berkenaan menyebabkan 10 ADUN termasuk Rosol, Abdul Halim dan Zakaria tidak hadir ke hari kedua Persidangan DUN keesokannya.

Berikutan siasatan kes itu, polis menahan seorang kerani syarikat swasta berusia 31 tahun di Bandar Baru Bangi, Isnin lalu kerana disyaki menghantar SMS berbaur ugutan itu.

Menurut Fauzi, perintah tahanan reman ke atas kerani itu dilanjutkan selama tiga hari lagi bagi membolehkan pihaknya melengkapkan siasatan.

Beliau memberitahu, polis juga sudah menghantar anggota untuk mengambil komputer di pejabat kerani itu bagi membantu siasatan yang dijangka selesai dalam tempoh beberapa hari lagi.

Ditanya identiti kerani itu yang dikaitkan sebagai penulis blog di laman web 'ganulening' ketika kepimpinan Idris sebelum ini, Mohd. Fauzi berkata, pihaknya masih menyiasat.

''Setakat ini, kami juga belum mendapat petunjuk mengenai penglibatan ADUN-ADUN di negeri ini dalam kes ini,'' ujarnya. Utusan

Ahmad Said janji beri kerjasama

KUALA TERENGGANU 24 April - Menteri Besar, Datuk Ahmad Said berjanji akan bekerjasama dengan Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO Terengganu yang baru, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein bagi mengukuhkan parti itu di negeri ini.

Menurutnya, sebagai Timbalan Pengerusi, beliau akan membantu Naib Presiden UMNO itu melaksanakan tugas tersebut sebagai persediaan untuk menghadapi Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13.

"Datuk Seri Hishammuddin bukan asing kepada Terengganu. Saya percaya gandingan kami adalah yang terbaik bagi mengembalikan keyakinan rakyat kepada UMNO dan Barisan Nasional (BN)," ujarnya.

Beliau berkata demikian menerusi khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS) yang dihantar kepada media melalui Setiausaha Akhbarnya, Rosli Zakaria hari ini.

Ahmad berkata demikian mengulas pelantikan Hishammuddin sebagai Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO Terengganu yang baru seperti diumumkan Presiden UMNO, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak hari ini.

Beliau berharap ahli UMNO di semua peringkat menerima keputusan itu dan memberi sokongan padu kepada pucuk pimpinan UMNO negeri yang baru untuk mengukuhkan parti.

Friday April 17, 2009

Moves to mend ties in Terengganu

KUALA TERENGGANU: Efforts are underway to mend ties between Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said and certain quarters within the state Barisan Nasional.

Ahmad met Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at the Prime Minister’s office in Putrajaya yesterday.

Ahmad, told mStar online, The Star’s Malay newsportal, that he met Najib and Muhyiddin for almost an hour from 12.30pm.

However, he declined to reveal what was discussed at the meeting. “I have no comments,” he said.

He also said that he did not meet Najib and Muhyiddin with the former mentri besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.

Terengganu Speaker Tengku Putera Tengku Awang, who is said to have initiated the meeting in Putrajaya yesterday, said: “We regard it (the political storm) as a trivial matter and hope it will not prolong further.”

He also urged the people not to spread rumours about the issue.

Meanwhile, police have seized several mobile phones to help in their probe.

KDRM kutip RM1.1b hasil di Terengganu

KUALA TERENGGANU 14 April - Bahagian Pencegahan Kastam Diraja Malaysia (KDRM) Terengganu mengutip pelbagai hasil berjumlah RM1.18 bilion sepanjang tahun lalu.

Penolong Ketua Pengarah Kastam (Penguatkuasaan), Datuk Md. Hashim Pardi berkata, daripada jumlah itu, kira-kira 90 peratus daripadanya merupakan kutipan hasil daripada sumber petroleum.

Beliau berkata, pada tahun ini, KDRM Terengganu menyasarkan jumlah kutipan yang sama seperti tahun lalu.

"Sehubungan itu, semua pegawai terlibat perlu bekerja keras untuk memastikan kutipan hasil mencapai matlamat jabatan," katanya di sini semalam.

Pengarah KDRM Terengganu, Datuk Hassan Ibrahim akan berpindah ke ibu pejabat sebagai Pengarah Bahagian Perancangan Korporat manakala Pengarah KDRM Kelantan, Datuk Abdul Azis Yaakub mengambil alih tempat Hassan.

Md. Hashim berkata, KDRM juga akan meningkatkan tahap keselamatan di setor tempat menyimpan barangan rampasan di seluruh negeri bagi mengelak kecurian atau rompakan.

Sehubungan itu, katanya, KDRM akan mengambil langkah keselamatan termasuk memastikan semua stor dipagar di samping menambah pengawal keselamatan.

Katanya, KDRM juga bercadang memasang kamera litar tertutup (CCTV) di semua stor untuk memudahkan pencegahan jika berlaku sebarang kecurian atau rompakan. - Utusan 15/04

Ahmad doesn't know why 10 assemblymen were absent

• News
• Headline

2009-04-14 16:22

KUALA TERENGGANU: Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said he had no idea why 10 State Assemblymen from the Barisan Nasional (BN) did not attend the State Assembly sitting today (14 April).

He also said he did not know that three BN Assemblymen had received death threats through the short messaging service (SMS) last night.

"I had just returned from Kemaman at about 2.30 this morning. I have no idea about the SMS and the action by the 10 Assemblymen in not attending the Assembly sitting today," he said when met by reporters when the sitting adjourned for lunch today.

He was asked to comment on the action by the 10 BN Assemblymen in refusing to attend the second day of the sitting as they claimed their safety was threatened.

They decided to stay away from the sitting after three of them received the death threats through the SMS following talks that a vote of no-confidence against the Menteri Besar would be tabled at the sitting this time.

The 10 Assemblymen who did not attend the sitting were the Assemblyman for Tepuh, Muhammad Ramli Nuh, Mohd Zawawi Ismail (Kuala Berang), Abdul Halim Jusoh (Permaisuri), Datuk Din Adam (Bukit Besi), Datuk Rosol Wahid (Ajil), Alias Abdullah (Alor Limbat), Zakaria Abdullah (Paka), Ramlan Ali (Jabi), Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh (Jertih) and Mohd Pehimi Yusof (Kota Putera).

Commenting further, Ahmad said he was not surprised by the action of the BN Assemblymen and would not contact them for an explanation on the matter.

"Not attending the State Assembly sitting is normal for politicians... I will not persuade them to come (tomorrow)," he said, avoiding many questions posed by members of the press.

Asked on the senior government officer who was linked to the SMS, Ahmad said he left it to the police to take further action as the three Assemblymen had reported the matter.

The three-day Terengganu State Assembly sitting will end tomorrow. (Bernama)

10 Terengganu BN assemblymen absent from state assembly

• News
• Headline

2009-04-14 12:57

KUALA TERENGGANU: Ten Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen has not attended the Terengganu state assembly which entered its second day today (14 April).

They were Tepoh assemblyman Muhammad Ramli Noh, Mohd Zawawi Ismail (Kuala Berang), Abdul Halim Jusoh (Permaisuri), Datuk Din Adam (Bukit Besi), Datuk Rosol Wahid (Ajil), Alias Abdullah (Alor Limbat), Zakaria Abdullah (Paka), Ramlan Ali (Jabi), Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh (Jertih) and Mohd Pehimi Yusof (Kota Putera).

The morning session of the question time was attended by Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said, all 10 state executive councillors and three BN assemblymen, and all eight PAS assemblymen.

The turn of event is believed to be related to the political unrest in the state where three assemblymen had lodged police reports early this morning over threats received through the short messaging service (SMS).

It was reported in the newspapers that the menteri besar had given a stern warning that disciplinary action, including sacking, would be taken against BN assemblymen if a no-confidence motion was tabled against him at the state assembly.

BN holds 24 of the 32 state seats while PAS holds the remaining 8 seats. (Bernama)