KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 — Bukit Besi assemblyman Roslee Daud has “verbally” retracted his resignation from Umno, two Terengganu executive councillors said today even as their colleagues continue to persuade two other state representatives to return to the fold.
The oil-rich state of Terengganu is currently wrapped in a political crisis that could result in the fall of the Barisan Nasional (BN) state administration after three elected representatives went rogue and declared themselves independent lawmakers.
“We are now waiting for that statement from YB Roslee in writing,” state Industry and Trade executive councillor Datuk Tengku Putra Tengku Awang told The Malay Mail Online when contacted.
Terengganu tourism and culture executive councillor, Datuk Mohd Jidin Shafee, said Umno colleagues had advised Roslee to return to the party, state news agency Bernama reported.
The Permaisuri assemblyman added that the latter no longer needed to explain his initial quit decision.
Rumours have been swirling in the last four hours that the three assemblymen have had second thoughts about leaving Umno.
“We are still in talks. We are hoping for a positive outcome,” Tengku Putra said when asked about Datuk Seri Ahmad Said and Ghazali Taib, the representatives for Kijal and Ajil respectively.
Ahmad and Roslee were not contactable to confirm or deny the rumours and assertions, while Ghazali declined to comment when contacted.
Roslee's aide also refused to weigh in when contacted.
“Maaf sy xbleh komen ape2 sehingga semua selesai,” he said via text message, which translates to “Sorry, I cannot comment on anything until everything is settled”.
With Roslee back in BN, the latest score has the ruling coalition tied with the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) opposition at 15 seats each.
Ahmad and Ghazali, who have refrained from announcing their allegiance to either bloc since they went rogue 24 hours ago, are considered independent representatives in the Terengganu state legislative assembly.
Terengganu PAS announced today it would not pilfer any representative who left its archrival to shore up its ranks for a takeover.
PAS' Kuala Terengganu MP Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin told The Malay Mail Online when contacted that he knew Roslee had retracted his resignation from Umno.
He added that while Ahmad and Ghazali had declared their independence from Umno, both were still friendly to the 13-member coalition.
“They are using their positions as a bargaining tool and threatening defections. Umno being Umno will accede and negotiate.
“One day of excitement about nothing. They could have spared us the trouble. Now the rakyat have become fools,” Raja Kamarul said.
Ahmad, 57, threw in his resignation letter dated May 12, 2014 to the Umno secretary-general, scant hours after he was forced to step down as Terengganu mentri besar mid-term, and replaced with Seberang Takir assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman.
Ghazali quit together with Ahmad while Roslee reportedly handed in his letter earlier this morning.
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.
