KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 — PAS today came out to reject rumours that one of its assemblymen will be made Terengganu mentri besar following the defection of three representatives from rival party Umno.

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said that Barisan Nasional (BN) remains the government of the day, but added that the Islamist party, which controls 14 out of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) 15 seats in the assembly, was closely monitoring developments.

“At a time like this, all this kind of rumours are expected. The PAS secretary-general is in Terengganu now and he is looking into the situation,” Mohamad told The Malay Mail Online.

The leader popularly called Mat Sabu was responding to speculations that the state’s royal house has rescinded the appointment of Mentri Besar Datuk Razif Abdul Rahman last night following the third defection by an Umno representative this morning.

According to a rumour shared in text messages, a PAS representative was to be appointed in Razif’s place.

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.

“If the legislative assembly sitting is called, PAS will push for a vote of no-confidence but we will have to wait and see what happens next and if there will more defections,” said Mohamad.

Ahmad, who was reappointed Terengganu menteri 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.

BN just managed to retain the state administration with 17 state seats against PR's 15 seats in last year’s general election.