KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 ― The resignations of three lawmakers from Umno could lead to Terengganu falling back into PAS’s control, but the party is remaining cautious until the now-independent assemblymen make clear their allegiances.
Kuala Terengganu MP Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin said the raft of resignations by Umno assemblymen ― three so far, but with more expected ― has left the Barisan Nasional (BN) in a precarious spot, with just 14 state seats to Pakatan Rakyat’s 15 in the 32-spot assembly.
“The independents, who have opted out of Umno, have not issued any statements supporting either parties. This is where the complication arises.
“As it stands now, the number is marginal and it could swing either way which is extremely unstable,” Raja Kamarul told The Malay Mail Online.
He said the best option would be to call for a dissolution of the assembly, which will trigger a state election, in order to resolve the impasse.
Earlier today, State Assembly Speaker Mohd Zubir Embong added to the murkiness by declining to confirm if he has received the notices of party resignation by the three assemblymen.
“Happy Wesak Day! Office closed,” he said in a text message, when asked for confirmation.
Calls and text messages to the three purported defectors were also unanswered.
Former mentri besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said quit Umno to become an independent assemblyman late yesterday shortly after being replaced by Razif, plunging the state administration into a political crisis.
Ajil assemblyman Ghazali Taib announced his resignation shortly after Ahmad, followed by Bukit Besi assemblyman Roslee Daud today.
As things stand, PR commands a plurality with 15 seats, but the informal pact would get control the state assembly should the trio decide to become PR-friendly independents.
Ahmad, who was reappointed Terengganu mentri besar for a second term on May 9 last year, was forced to step down from office mid-term, reportedly due to the BN’s weakest polls performance in a decade.
The embattled lawmaker claimed he had asked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to allow him to step down as mentri besar after his daughter’s wedding reception on May 17 but the Umno president reportedly disregarded the request as a “personal matter”, prompting Ahmad to quit the party.
PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub stressed that the situation is “not easy”, even for PAS.
“I think we just wait and see. We don’t want to portray ourselves as wanting to take any opportunity because I think … the most important now is how we are going to handle this issue,” he said
This may include “negotiating” if they ever come to that point, he added.
A party source who declined to be named, said it was important for the PR coalition members to close ranks and strengthen their working relationship at these crucial moments.
“For the leadership of PAS in Terengganu, it’s important to put ears on the ground and hear well what people are saying.
“Although they want to get rid of Umno and BN, with all these fiasco, all these nonsense, no certainty they will land support to PAS and Pakatan if they can’t fulfil the wishes of the people in Terengganu.
He added that failure to do so will land the pact back where it currently sits, on the opposition bench.
PAS ruled Terengganu for one term, from 1999 to 2004, before losing the state back to BN.
The Islamist party and secular ally DAP are once again embroiled in a public spat over hudud, the Islamic penal law, that the former it seeking to enforce in neighbouring Kelantan.
