Former Terengganu menteri besar Ahmad Said has claimed to be in the dark about the royal crisis his successor, whom he had attempted to oust via a no-confidence vote in March, is embroiled in.
Contacted by Malaysiakini, the veteran politician said he had spent the last week in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, participating in a golf tournament.
“I don’t know about this issue... I just came back (to Terengganu) from golfing in Kota Kinabalu,” he said when quizzed on the matter.
Yesterday, the Terengganu palace confirmed it had stripped Menteri Besar Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman of all honorific titles conferred on him effective April 22.
No reason was provided for this, but the move ignited speculation of a possible change in the state leadership.
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has urged all quarters not to speculate and revealed that he has sought an audience with Terengganu ruler Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin to discuss the matter.
He also said the state administration is functioning as normal.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Said, who is also the Kijal assemblyperson, refused to comment further on the matter.
In the last state legislative assembly sitting, the former MB tabled a motion of no confidence against Razif, claiming that his successor had lost the trust and support of many assemblypersons.
However, the motion was rejected by speaker Mohd Zubir Embong.
The situation in Terengganu is dicey for the ruling coalition as it only has a narrow two-seat majority.
Ahmad Said has always been a regular feature in leadership controversies in the state.
After the 2008 general election, the Abdullah Ahmad Badawi administration had submitted the reappointment of Idris Jusoh for the second term as menteri besar but failed to obtain consent from the palace.
Soon after this, the palace announced Ahmad Said as the new menteri besar.
He was reappointed to the post after the last general election but had to step down in 2014, only after a year of serving his second term, to make way for Ahmad Razif.
This prompted Ahmad Said and two other assemblypersons to quit Umno.
The crisis lasted only two days following intervention from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who apologised for sacking him so close to his daughter's wedding.
However, Ahmad Said had claimed he is still sore over the episode and that he felt humiliated. -Mkini
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