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Showing posts with label OPINION. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OPINION. Show all posts
Ahmad Said had agreed to being replaced a year ago, Umno veep says
Written By Unknown on Thursday, 15 May 2014 | 04:33
Former Terengganu mentri besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said should have
gracefully stepped down from the post, as it was part of an
understanding reached with the party’s top ranks a year ago, said Umno
vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.
Shafie said Ahmad was sworn in as mentri besar on May 9 last year amid strong opposition from state representatives and party grassroots.
The New Straits Times (NST) quoted Shafie saying that Ahmad was given a year-long extension by Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“At that time the political situation in Terengganu was quite precarious. There were some who agreed (to Ahmad’s continuing as the Mentri Besar) and they were some who disagreed.
“To avoid the situation from worsening, it was agreed between the prime minister and Ahmad that he would remain in his position for one year,” Shafie was further quoted as saying.
Shafie insisted that Ahmad was aware of the terms and should not be claiming that it was insensitive to replace him before his daughter’s wedding reception on May 17.
Ahmad quit Umno and turned independent hours Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman was sworn in as the new Mentri Besar of the oil-rich coastal state.
The embattled lawmaker claimed he had asked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to allow him to step down as mentri besar after the wedding reception but the Umno president had reportedly disregarded the request as a “personal matter”.
“That (the wedding) is his own matter. The understanding concerns government matter. And, we did not know about the wedding plans because it was not stated earlier nor was it in the understanding reached last year,” insisted Shafie, who is also the Semporna MP.
Ahmad, who is the Kijal assemblyman, was blamed for the Barisan Nasional’s (BN) weakest polls performance in a decade.
BN managed to hold on to the state by 17 state seats against PR’s 15 seats in last year’s general election.
Ajil assemblyman Ghazali Taib announced his resignation shortly after Ahmad, followed by Bukit Besi assemblyman Roslee Daud reducing BN’s numbers from 17 to 14, plunging the state into a political mayhem.
Roslee, however, withdrew his resignation letter last night and that the Umno leadership is persuading Ghazali to also retract but no official statements have been issued.
If Roslee returns to Umno, BN will tie with Pakatan Rakyat’s 15 elected representatives in the Terengganu Legislative Assembly, with Ahmad and Ghazali as independents.
New MB Ahmad Razif arrived at work this morning and insisted that dissolution of the state assembly was not necessary.
He is expected to meet with Najib in Putrajaya today to discuss the state administration’s predicament.(Malay Mail Online) -
Power play that rocks Terengganu
THE late-night swearing-in of Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman as the
new Mentri Besar for Terengganu on Monday was the first hint that all
was not well in the state.
The other hint was the glaring no-show by Razif’s predecessor Datuk Ahmad Said. By then, political circles in Terengganu were abuzz with speculation that Ahmad had resigned from Umno and declared himself to become an independent assemblyman for Kijal.
Just hours after the swearing-in, it was confirmed that Ahmad, deeply frustrated and unable to accept his fate, had also persuaded two other assemblymen – Ghazali Taib (Ajil) and Roslee Daud (Bukit Besi) – to follow him out of the party into the no man’s land of politics.
Terengganu was on the road to yet another constitutional crisis. The irony is that it is the second such crisis associated with Ahmad who came to power in 2008 after a protracted standoff between the Palace and Umno over the choice of Mentri Besar.
For much of yesterday, Terengganu was throbbing with speculation that more assemblymen would jump ship and that the State Legislative Assembly would be dissolved.
But the situation seems to have been contained, thanks to intense behind-the-scenes intervention by top Umno leaders. Two of the assemblymen concerned have since been persuaded to retract their resignations.
The State Assembly is also not going to be dissolved any time soon. As Umno politician Datuk Wan Farid Wan Salleh put it: “The Sultan cannot simply act to dissolve the State Assembly based on what is reported in the media.”
Wan Farid said the assemblymen involved have to formally inform the State Assembly that they are now independent members and a confidence vote will be taken at the next State Assembly sitting in September where the fate of the state government will be decided.
“It would be a different story if they had made it clear that they are with PAS.
“But they are independents and the Speaker cannot assume that they are with the other side,” he said.
But that, apparently, was the option of last resort for Umno. All the Umno assemblymen in Terengganu had signed open-dated letters after the general election, pledging to vacate their seats if they defect from Umno and the party had intended to hold them to their word.
Despite claims that PAS is preparing to join forces with the trio to form the next government, a PAS leader from Terengganu claimed there had been no meetings with the defectors and that they are in wait-and-see mode for now.
But there is no doubt that PAS can smell the prospect of power and even has a potential candidate for Mentri Besar, in the form of Manir assemblyman Hilmi Harun, a young ulama whose late father was the hardline Datuk Harun Taib who had led the party’s Dewan Ulama.
Ahmad, who is known for his street-fighter style of politics, is probably revelling in the upheaval he has created.
He does not seem to care about how history will view him and as one Umno politician put it, he is “making don’t know” about the fact that he had signed a letter agreeing to stay for only a year after Terengganu almost fell in the general election.
He also does not seem to be making any immediate effort to move out of the official residence of the Mentri Besar in Kuala Terengganu.
As his successor was being sworn in on Monday night, Ahmad was entertaining several of his stalwarts and supporters in the official residence. There were only a few cars parked outside, but the whole place was brightly lit, as though something big was going on.
Ahmad, according to one of those present, was in a jovial mood, joking and smiling through the night. It could be his usual bravado although it is possible that he may be enjoying the moment for all it is worth.
He told those present that he had pleaded with the Prime Minister for one more month when they met on Monday morning because he was planning to have a second wedding kenduri in his constituency for his daughter who got married last Saturday.
He also told them that Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob should go first and not him.
But basically, the leadership transition has been poorly managed. Umno politicians claimed that the Putrajaya official who was in charge of the matter had under-estimated Ahmad.
On Monday night, the official was more interested in mingling with the new Mentri Besar instead of doing whatever he could to contain the fallout from the leadership transition.
Many in Umno have been at a loss to figure out what Ahmad is all about. His rise to power was very controversial and his exit has been even more controversial.
He not only refused point-blank to take responsibility for nearly losing the state in the general election, he has tried to bring down the Barisan government.
He had advertised himself as the “rakyat’s MB”, but his actions show that the rakyat is the last thing on his mind and that it is all about himself and his political ego.
His associates said that he has lost face, his pride has been injured and that was why he is fighting back. But his critics think he is being spiteful, full of revenge and does not seem to understand that the Mentri Besar’s position is not personal to holder.
The Prime Minister had wanted to give Ahmad a “soft landing” when he agreed to let him stay on for one year. But the “soft landing” became a hard landing because Ahmad was not ready to be grounded.
Joceline Tan, The Star
The other hint was the glaring no-show by Razif’s predecessor Datuk Ahmad Said. By then, political circles in Terengganu were abuzz with speculation that Ahmad had resigned from Umno and declared himself to become an independent assemblyman for Kijal.
Just hours after the swearing-in, it was confirmed that Ahmad, deeply frustrated and unable to accept his fate, had also persuaded two other assemblymen – Ghazali Taib (Ajil) and Roslee Daud (Bukit Besi) – to follow him out of the party into the no man’s land of politics.
Terengganu was on the road to yet another constitutional crisis. The irony is that it is the second such crisis associated with Ahmad who came to power in 2008 after a protracted standoff between the Palace and Umno over the choice of Mentri Besar.
For much of yesterday, Terengganu was throbbing with speculation that more assemblymen would jump ship and that the State Legislative Assembly would be dissolved.
But the situation seems to have been contained, thanks to intense behind-the-scenes intervention by top Umno leaders. Two of the assemblymen concerned have since been persuaded to retract their resignations.
The State Assembly is also not going to be dissolved any time soon. As Umno politician Datuk Wan Farid Wan Salleh put it: “The Sultan cannot simply act to dissolve the State Assembly based on what is reported in the media.”
Wan Farid said the assemblymen involved have to formally inform the State Assembly that they are now independent members and a confidence vote will be taken at the next State Assembly sitting in September where the fate of the state government will be decided.
“It would be a different story if they had made it clear that they are with PAS.
“But they are independents and the Speaker cannot assume that they are with the other side,” he said.
But that, apparently, was the option of last resort for Umno. All the Umno assemblymen in Terengganu had signed open-dated letters after the general election, pledging to vacate their seats if they defect from Umno and the party had intended to hold them to their word.
Despite claims that PAS is preparing to join forces with the trio to form the next government, a PAS leader from Terengganu claimed there had been no meetings with the defectors and that they are in wait-and-see mode for now.
But there is no doubt that PAS can smell the prospect of power and even has a potential candidate for Mentri Besar, in the form of Manir assemblyman Hilmi Harun, a young ulama whose late father was the hardline Datuk Harun Taib who had led the party’s Dewan Ulama.
Ahmad, who is known for his street-fighter style of politics, is probably revelling in the upheaval he has created.
He does not seem to care about how history will view him and as one Umno politician put it, he is “making don’t know” about the fact that he had signed a letter agreeing to stay for only a year after Terengganu almost fell in the general election.
He also does not seem to be making any immediate effort to move out of the official residence of the Mentri Besar in Kuala Terengganu.
As his successor was being sworn in on Monday night, Ahmad was entertaining several of his stalwarts and supporters in the official residence. There were only a few cars parked outside, but the whole place was brightly lit, as though something big was going on.
Ahmad, according to one of those present, was in a jovial mood, joking and smiling through the night. It could be his usual bravado although it is possible that he may be enjoying the moment for all it is worth.
He told those present that he had pleaded with the Prime Minister for one more month when they met on Monday morning because he was planning to have a second wedding kenduri in his constituency for his daughter who got married last Saturday.
He also told them that Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob should go first and not him.
But basically, the leadership transition has been poorly managed. Umno politicians claimed that the Putrajaya official who was in charge of the matter had under-estimated Ahmad.
On Monday night, the official was more interested in mingling with the new Mentri Besar instead of doing whatever he could to contain the fallout from the leadership transition.
Many in Umno have been at a loss to figure out what Ahmad is all about. His rise to power was very controversial and his exit has been even more controversial.
He not only refused point-blank to take responsibility for nearly losing the state in the general election, he has tried to bring down the Barisan government.
He had advertised himself as the “rakyat’s MB”, but his actions show that the rakyat is the last thing on his mind and that it is all about himself and his political ego.
His associates said that he has lost face, his pride has been injured and that was why he is fighting back. But his critics think he is being spiteful, full of revenge and does not seem to understand that the Mentri Besar’s position is not personal to holder.
The Prime Minister had wanted to give Ahmad a “soft landing” when he agreed to let him stay on for one year. But the “soft landing” became a hard landing because Ahmad was not ready to be grounded.
Joceline Tan, The Star
Former Sabah Pakatan reps face hostile reception
Written By Unknown on Tuesday, 12 November 2013 | 18:45
By Roy Goh THREE assemblymen will be seated with different views when the Sabah 2014 Budget is presented at the state legislative assembly this Friday.
After their unceremonious departure recently, they will not be sitting with the opposition Pakatan line-up and surely not with Barisan Nasional backbenchers.
Despite claiming to be government or BN-friendly independents, Hiew King Chiu, Jelani Hamdan and Jeremy Malajad will be on their own.
How they plan to support BN is anybody's guess, but they can expect a hostile reception from Pakatan lawmakers.
Hiew was the first to leave DAP in September, followed by Jeremy and Jelani from PKR on different days last week.
This sparked strong protests from the parties they represented in the May 5 general election this year, apart from showing cracks in the loose alliance. It also exposed undelivered promises that were eventually used by the trio as part of their excuse to leave the opposition pact.
Following the election, Pakatan reasoned it needed to provide greater recognition to Kadazandusun leaders to hold on to its support in Sabah. Leaders from the community were promised key positions but were left out.
Former Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin was made Sabah PKR chief and opposition leader in the state assembly. Hiew disagreed, however, on how Lajim was picked as the leader while Jelani and Jeremy felt the Kadazandusuns were marginalised by PKR.
Pakatan is now left with eight assemblymen -- five from PKR and three from DAP. Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitin BN can also make do without the three independents as they still command a big majority or 48 of the 60 seats in the state assembly.
Some of the BN component parties would not be too excited if their coalition partners roped in any of the three under their wing.
Hiew was Kota Kinabalu member of parliament after the 2008 general election and Luyang assemblyman after May 5, defeating candidates from PBS and MCA respectively.
Jeremy, the Kadamaian assemblyman, was with Upko but jumped ship to PKR to contest against PBS incumbent Herbert Timbun Lagadan.
As for Jelani, who was once a rising star in Umno before being suspended for money politics, his return to BN would likely not be welcomed. PBS deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili made it clear recently when he said BN would need to be wary of their intentions.
"Direct acceptance of opposition representatives into a BN component party is essentially party hopping and unprincipled political behaviour.
"It is gratifying that members of the opposition and their elected representatives have realised that only BN can deliver for the people. PBS welcomes new BN supporters but, as a principle, it prefers to be cautious of elected representatives who have jumped parties.
"It is important to know if those who left the opposition were sincere in their actions," said Ongkili, who is also Kota Marudu MP.
As a rule, former BN members who contested for the opposition could not be accepted without full consent from coalition members.
Upko secretary-general Datuk Donald Mojuntin said it was only fair for the coalition partners that were affected in the elections.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had lambasted the three party hoppers and blamed the BN for enttheir respective parties.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, however, said Anwar should look within the opposition alliance before pointing fingers at others.
"There are certain leaders in Pakatan who have come to realise that to stay on with the coalition would be futile.
"They are moving on to serve their constituencies. Instead of blaming others for its weaknesses, Pakatan should examine itself."
Read more: Former Sabah Pakatan reps face hostile reception - Columnist - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnist/former-sabah-pakatan-reps-face-hostile-reception-1.399132#ixzz2kUQazgcI
