Ahmad Said to remain as MB

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NST Online » Local News

2009/05/17

By : Ridzwan Fernandez and Sean Augustin

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Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin wants focus to be on development

KUALA TERENGGANU: Datuk Ahmad Said will remain as Terengganu menteri besar, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday, ending speculation that he was about to be replaced after only a year in office.

In what could be the end to the stalemate over a state leadership crisis spanning more than a year, the Umno deputy president said as far as the party was concerned, there was no plan to drop the embattled menteri besar.

"Who said (there are going to be changes)? I have not heard anything like that," he said when asked to comment on talk that there would be a change of menteri besar in the state.

Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, had earlier opened the national-level Teachers Day celebrations here.

Ahmad has been fighting a rebellion that comprised his own Umno colleagues even before he took office. His endorsement as menteri besar by the palace after the BN retained Terengganu in the March 2008 general election was protested by a group of Umno assemblymen who wanted Ahmad's predecessor, Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, to be reappointed.
The political tug of war between both factions resurfaced last month when three assemblymen lodged police reports shortly after receiving SMS death threats on April 14.

Following the turn of events since the reports were lodged, Idris's special officer, Datuk Dr Ahmad Ramzi Mohammad Zubir, was arrested by police early this week for alleged involvement in the sending of the SMS. He was released on a RM50,000 police bail the following day.

Muhyiddin said while he was aware that there was friction within the Terengganu Umno, he hoped the political situation in the state would change for the better, and that Umno and BN would become united and strong.

"This is the time we should be focusing on work, on developing Terengganu. If there are misunderstandings, then there must be a will to resolve them."

"The people have spoken and given their trust, so don't desert them now."