KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 — After losing its majority in the Terengganu state assembly, Barisan Nasional (BN)’s best move forward may be to seek fresh elections in the state, analysts said.

Seeking a new mandate may help the coalition preempt a no-confidence vote in the state assembly and wrest control of a fluid situation especially amid speculation that more lawmakers are preparing to leave Umno.

A new mandate could also stave off a possible bid by rivals in Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to take over the east coast state, Universiti Teknologi MARA Associate professor Shaharuddin Badaruddin told The Malay Mail Online today.

“The possibility is the new MB will dissolve the DUN to have a fresh election,” he said, using the Malay acronym for the state legislative assembly.

“You need a new mandate. You need to go and meet the Sultan and ask the DUN to have a fresh election,” he continued.

BN would want to avoid waiting out until the next state assembly, when PR allies PAS and PKR would be able to seek a motion for a vote of no confidence against new Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman, Shaharuddin added.

“Definitely they want to avoid it (a no-confidence vote), they want to settle it between Umno and independents. They have to negotiate and avoid any sidang (sitting) from happening,” he said.

Associate professor at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Datuk Dr Mohammad Agus Yusoff said calling for fresh polls would be the best “democratic” move to allow the public to decide again.

“The best thing for Umno to do is for the MB of Terengganu to go to the Sultan and ask for dissolution of assembly,” he told The Malay Mail Online.

Alternatively, there could be a vote of no confidence at the Terengganu state assembly, he said.

Agus said it was possible for Datuk Seri Ahmad Said to become Terengganu mentri besar again but under PR’s banner.

But the final decision on who will lead the state government rests with the monarch, who will give his nod for the person who commands majority support in the state assembly, he said.

BN lost its majority in the 32-seat Terengganu assembly today, after Bukit Besi assemblyman Roslee Daud quit Umno this morning, joining Kijal and Ajil lawmakers Ahmad and Ghazali Taib respectively in declaring themselves independent representatives.

Following Roslee’s decision, BN now has only 14 seats in Terengganu to Pakatan Rakyat’s 15.