Win more than 4 seats if you want a promotion, Ahmad Said told

 

Terengganu BN chief Ahmad Said had promised to deliver four of the eight parliamentary seats in the state. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Terengganu Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Said has been told to win more than half of the eight parliamentary seats in the east coast state if he wanted a “promotion”.

The coalition’s chairman, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that Ahmad had promised to deliver four seats.

“But I told Ahmad that if he wanted a promotion, four seats is not enough. It has to be more than that,” Zahid said when launching the BN election machinery in Hulu Terengganu this evening.

Terengganu’s eight parliamentary seats are Kuala Terengganu, Hulu Terengganu, Besut, Marang, Kemaman, Setiu, Dungun and Kuala Nerus.

-ADVERTISEMENT-

Ads by 

Zahid did not explain what he meant by “promotion”. Ahmad, who is also Terengganu Umno chief, was a menteri besar of Terengganu from March 2008 to May 2014. He has been the state assemblyman for Kijal since 2004.

Zahid said it was not impossible for BN to wrest control of the Terengganu state government from PAS, citing the unity in the coalition and its leadership.

“I am confident in Ahmad’s leadership as state BN chairman,” Zahid said.

Separately, Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob called on BN members to stop stabbing each other in the back, which could weaken the coalition.

Ismai, who is also the caretaker prime minister, hoped that members would accept the candidates chosen for the coming elections.

“It is not to say that Terengganu BN is not strong. How long have we been at its helm? But we have this ‘cah keting’ culture that saw us lose our stronghold,” he said, using a term in local dialect to describe sabotage.

Umno’s 38-year reign in Terengganu came to an end in 1999 after BN suffered a shock defeat to PAS. The Umno-led coalition reclaimed power in 2004 but PAS made a comeback in 2018. - FMT