Terengganu’s Menteri Besar (MB) post is once again in the news - probably the only other MB post than that in Kedah which seems to change more often than others.
And again, it has to do with the Palace rebuffing the MB Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman.
While nothing is confirmed yet on whether there will indeed be a change, the way the present CM Ahmad Razif is being treated by the Palace says something. And the hush around the treatment from Barisan Nasional and the mass media says a lot.
Last Friday, it was alleged that the Palace had stripped Ahmad Razif of his datukship after he had reportedly ‘irked’ Sultan of Terengganu, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, during a speech.
He was alleged to have “belittled” the contributions of the trust headed by the Sultan, comparing it to what the state government has done for the people.
At an official function later, it was reported that he was not addressed as Datuk Seri, fuelling further rumours that he is on his way out.
The fact that former Terengganu Umno chairman Datuk Hishamuddin Hussein has also appealed for calm while not confirming anything is also increasing speculations that there is something going on.
The media has not speculated much on this except for Hishamuddin’s pleas to stay calm.
Only one new newsportal has so far reported that the the retraction of the titles has laid the path to the removal of Ahmad Razif from the post.
One senior member of Terengganu says it is probably being handled delicately due to the looming Sarawak election which is in its peak campaigning period.
Sources say that this friction between the Sultan and Ahmad Razif is going to affect their relationship, as the latter is expected to brief the former on exco meetings weekly.
The Terengganu MB crisis is not the first one and definitely will not be the last - for previously the Sultan had also refused to endorse Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh for a second term and had appointed his own choice of Datuk Seri Ahmad Said in 2008, who was initially not approved by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
And again, it has to do with the Palace rebuffing the MB Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman.
While nothing is confirmed yet on whether there will indeed be a change, the way the present CM Ahmad Razif is being treated by the Palace says something. And the hush around the treatment from Barisan Nasional and the mass media says a lot.
Last Friday, it was alleged that the Palace had stripped Ahmad Razif of his datukship after he had reportedly ‘irked’ Sultan of Terengganu, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, during a speech.
He was alleged to have “belittled” the contributions of the trust headed by the Sultan, comparing it to what the state government has done for the people.
At an official function later, it was reported that he was not addressed as Datuk Seri, fuelling further rumours that he is on his way out.
The fact that former Terengganu Umno chairman Datuk Hishamuddin Hussein has also appealed for calm while not confirming anything is also increasing speculations that there is something going on.
The media has not speculated much on this except for Hishamuddin’s pleas to stay calm.
Only one new newsportal has so far reported that the the retraction of the titles has laid the path to the removal of Ahmad Razif from the post.
One senior member of Terengganu says it is probably being handled delicately due to the looming Sarawak election which is in its peak campaigning period.
Sources say that this friction between the Sultan and Ahmad Razif is going to affect their relationship, as the latter is expected to brief the former on exco meetings weekly.
The Terengganu MB crisis is not the first one and definitely will not be the last - for previously the Sultan had also refused to endorse Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh for a second term and had appointed his own choice of Datuk Seri Ahmad Said in 2008, who was initially not approved by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
As Tuanku Mizan was at that time the King, it placed Najib as the PM in a difficult situation, as not agreeing to the King’s choice may be misconstrued as derhaka (treason).
Only after much persuasion and push, did PM and Umno agree to Ahmad Said, who was then asked to resign on May 2014. Ahmad Said, however, had his feathers ruffled, when he was forced to resign one day before his daughter’s wedding, making his lose ‘face’.
He had since then been a thorn for the PM and Umno in Terengganu.
Last March, he had pushed for a no-confidence vote for Ahmad Razif but failed to get any support from the Speaker.
In April, he was seen to be making trips to the Palace, and there were already rumours circling that there is something brewing. Ahmad Said, was however, allegedly told off by the Sultan’s uncle and everyone thought the matter was settled, until last Friday.
With not much in the news, except for the ‘rumours’ in Malay blogs, one can only wait and see what will further unfold, especially when the PM is also being attacked from within and outside of Umno, for Ahmad Razif is known as Najib’s man. - http://www.theheatmalaysia.com
He had since then been a thorn for the PM and Umno in Terengganu.
Last March, he had pushed for a no-confidence vote for Ahmad Razif but failed to get any support from the Speaker.
In April, he was seen to be making trips to the Palace, and there were already rumours circling that there is something brewing. Ahmad Said, was however, allegedly told off by the Sultan’s uncle and everyone thought the matter was settled, until last Friday.
With not much in the news, except for the ‘rumours’ in Malay blogs, one can only wait and see what will further unfold, especially when the PM is also being attacked from within and outside of Umno, for Ahmad Razif is known as Najib’s man. - http://www.theheatmalaysia.com
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