KUALA TERENGGANU, Oct 21 — Terengganu Umno leaders must forget about the party elections recently and close ranks, said Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said.

Ahmad, who is also state Umno liaison chairman, said leaders who lost in the contest for posts should accept the results and wishes of the grassroots.

“This is democracy. Despite losing by one vote, we still have to accept the result. It’s time we stand united to win back several state seats we narrowly lost in the 13th general election (GE13).

“The seats include Tepoh, Rantau Abang, Alor Limbat, Paka and Teluk Pasu,” he said commenting on the election new faces as Umno Youth chief in all eight divisions and six Puteri Umno chiefs in the state recently.

Meanwhile, at another function in Kemaman, he said the shock defeat of four incumbent Umno divisional chiefs was the decision of the grassroots.

Ahmad said the combination of old and new faces in all eight Terengganu divisions would be able to strengthen Umno to face the next general election.

“Defeat or not (incumbent chiefs), it is the wish of the grassroots,” he told a press conference after opening Dewan Canselor Kolej Universiti TATI (TATIUC) and launch of My T-Tree programme in Teluk Kalong, Kijal, here today.

Among the losers were Datuk Rosli Mat Hassan (Dungun), Datuk Yahya Khatib Mohamad (Marang), Datuk Tengku Putera Tengku Awang (Hulu Terengganu) and Datuk Mohd Nasir Ibrahim Fikri (Kuala Nerus). — Bernama