Ahmad Said had agreed to being replaced a year ago, Umno veep says

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

In Terengganu, inertia rolls over Umno’s political storm

Rohaida Yasin sits on a high platform, patiently peddling keropok lekor to customers at the Pasar Besar Kedai Payang.
The 42-year-old has been selling the traditional fish snacks since leaving school.
Her mother, Ramlah Hassan, 72, who has been selling various wares including the current keropok for about three decades, sits at the next platform.
“Those days you can be well-off if you had such a business. Now, what you earn is just enough to get by,” said Rohaida.
“I really don’t care who is in power. I malas nak tau (I don’t want to know). Even this time around, it’s just political play. People like me can’t do anything. If they really cared, they wouldn’t be doing this.”
She is, of course, referring to the recent political drama that has once again brought nationwide spotlight to the east coast state.
Once led by Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Mokhtar Ahmad of Barisan Nasional (BN), his 25-year hold on the helm ended when the state fell to PAS in 1999 but regained it in 2004.
BN won back the state in the 2013 general election with a lesser majority, winning only 17 of the 32 seats. PAS has 14 seats while Parti Keadilan Rakyat has one.
A little more than a year after the general election, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said resigned following an agreement that he would do so and more drama ensued.
This is not the first time Ahmad has been drawn into controversy. In 2008, he wrangled the position after Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin swore him into the post.
Then prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s choice of Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh was rejected. Ahmad went ahead and started his job and after a standoff between Umno and the palace, he kept his job.
Kuala Terengganu Umno division chairman Datuk Mohd Sabri Alwi lamented that the state is Umno’s to lose citing the in-fighting between the upper echelons of leadership in the state.
“It was stable under Wan Mokhtar and Idris. But now it isn’t. We need to be united. And it is up to YB Razif to bring us together. He needs to do and not just talk,” he said.
He said the political scenario was such that while there were PAS supporters, it was the fence sitters that one had to fight for.
“You see even now PAS is not making much noise. It is a problem for us when Umno fights,” he said.
A local political observer said cracks were deepening and the state BN, specifically Umno, had the next three years to improve matters.
“Razif, as head, should drive the state into boosting the economy for the urban, rural and suburban people,” he said, adding that oil royalty should be used to this end.
Former politician Tan Sri Wong Foon Meng said BN’s declining popularity had caused the current situation.
“In Terengganu, the opposition is not strong. In a way, it is the factions within BN. It was not that serious in the 1970s, 80s or 90s,” said the former Bandar assemblyman.
The former MCA secretary-general added that the state fell to PAS in 1999 due to events like Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim getting a bruised eye while detained.
He added that PAS had made some inroads in the last general election.
The state, he said, had come a long way from being the poorest to having development.
“Improve the livelihood. Development should be for all across the board,” he said. 
Audrey Edwards, Malay Mail Online

Terengganu a storm in a teacup

The opposition is trying to paint the recent Terengganu episode as a crisis. In fact, they are even labelling it a Constitutional Crisis and are equating it to the Perak crisis of five years ago when the Pakatan Rakyat state government lost power due to three crossovers, two from PKR and one from DAP.

Actually, it was merely a storm in a teacup and a minor misunderstanding that was easily resolved.
What happened was that it was agreed a year ago soon after the 5th May 2013 general election that the Menteri Besar, Ahmad Said, would stay on for just another year and then resign to make way for his replacement. And that would make his resignation affective from 5th May 2014.
Mat Said, as he is popularly called, however, had scheduled his daughter’s wedding for 10th May 2014. Hence Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak postponed his resignation to the day after that.
What the Prime Minister did not realise is that there was to be as second ceremony a week later, that is on 17th May 2014.
For Malays, a daughter’s wedding is very important, as the girl’s family must ‘play host’. It is not so crucial for the boy’s family and they can also hold a second ceremony later or not hold one at all if they so wish.
Hence many would regard Mat Said’s resignation as a slap in his face because it happened in between the two wedding ceremonies. For that matter, any Malay would view this as a form of insult.
The prime Minister has since apologised for confusion in the date of wedding and has, in fact, indicated that he would be attending the wedding. There is no better gesture than this and the Prime Minister acted in a most diplomatic manner, contrary to what some say in that the Prime Minister had not acted diplomatically enough.

Reveal 'money politics' in Terengganu, urges Bersih

Electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 has urged anyone who has information of bribery for political affliation in the two-day Terengganu political debacle to blow the whistle.

In a statement it said that this is as the “speedy resolution” to the momentarily hung state legislative assembly gave rise to suspicion of underhanded tactics.

“The whole affair stinks of not only dirty politics but also party politics taking precedence over governance...," it said.

Umno trio like biscuits - Now you see it, now you ...

The resignation of Umno Terengganu assemblypersons in the crisis on Tuesday has been likened to a brand of biscuits, whose tagline was aptly "Now you see it, now you don't".

Mat Sabu: Terengganu 3 reverted due to 'files'

PAS deputy president Mohamed Sabu said he was about to fly to Terengganu when the three assemblymen who quit Umno withdrew their resignation letters - before he could even blink his eyes.

“Do you know why BN representatives are scared?” the leader, widely known as Mat Sabu, asked a 200-strong crowd at a DAP ceramah in Taman Tun Sardon, Bukit Gelugor, last night.

PAS: It was ex-MB Ahmad who tried to join us

Former Terengganu menteri besar Ahmad Said lied in saying PAS tried to lure him into the party. “In fact, he contacted us to join PAS,” its central committee member Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi, claimed.

Syed Azman said this to Malaysiakini today in denying a Sinar Harian report that said PAS had contacted Ahmad to join or to support the Islamist party.

Ghazali Taib explains his move to follow Ahmad Said Read more: Terengganu Crisis: Ghazali Taib explains his move to follow Ahmad Said

AJIL: The tearful state assemblyman for Ajil said he decided on Monday to be with Datuk Seri Ahmad Said knowing that a leader who is out of office would be abandoned by allies.

Ghazali Taib describes himself as a "loyalist" of Ahmad Said. He was with Ahmad Said for 36 hours and had only left to see MB Razif being close colleagues as former teachers.

MB Razif requested Ghazali Taib the Assemblyman for Ajil to persuade former MB Ahmad Said to return.
Ghazali Taib the assemblyman for Ajil reveals emotive moments during the Terengganu political crisis which ended on Wednesday including the moment when MB Razif asked him to persuade Ahmad Said to return.

Ghazali Taib says he and Datuk Seri Ahmad Said planned during the period they were outside Umno to vacate their Kijal and Ajil seats and to make sure BN wins them in the ensuing by elections.

Ghazali Taib says he hopes elected representatives will in the future be informed of major changes such as the appointment of a new MB.

Was T’ganu crisis created for monetary gain?

PETALING JAYA: The coalition for free and fair elections (Bersih 2.0) is disturbed with the political horse-trading and dirty politics surrounding the Terengganu state government.
Bersih questioned the sudden resignation of former Menteri Besar Ahmad Said together with two other assemblymen yesterday which led to a hung state assembly, and the ‘speedy’ resolution to the state crisis.
“We are disturbed by how the political crisis transpired. From the resignation of the three Umno assemblymen to the speedy resolution of the so called turmoil.
“The whole affair stinks of not only dirty politics but also party politics taking precedence over governance,” Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah said in a statement.
The polls reform body which has been calling for a transparent electoral system also urged the public to blow the whistle of any attempt to buy or sell political affiliation for monetary gain.
“We urge those with information to blow the whistle as corruption of such order will definitely destroy our country.
“The new MB must seek royal consent to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly. It is only logical that when a government’s mandate is in doubt, it should always go back to the ballot box to earn its right to govern,” Maria added.
On another matter, Bersih expressed disagreement with the suggestion that the palace may summon lawmakers to determine whether the government still enjoys the confidence of the majority lawmakers, claiming that the matter will drag the constitutional monarch into partisan politics.
“We disagree with the suggestion as it will then drag the monarch into bias politics and subsequently tarnish its image as happened in the Perak crisis in 2009.
“We will never advance as a mature democracy if we continue to ignore the many painful lessons from our past and do not take a decisive step to break the chain of dirty politics by exposing the actors,” Maria said.

Ahmad Said denies delaying daughter’s wedding on purpose – Bernama

Former Terengganu menteri besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said (pic) denied claims that he delayed his daughter's wedding on purpose to May.
He said the wedding was fixed for May 10 and 17 after confirming the attendance of the Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin.
"It's not easy to invite the Sultan (Sultan Mizan) to the wedding. The invitation had to be sent two months in advance. The Sultan was only free on May 10, so we held it that day," he told a press conference at his residence in Teluk Kalong, Kemaman, today.  

Based on customs, he said the bride's side has to host another reception a week after the official ceremony on May 10, which was held on May 17 in Teluk Kalong. 
"Then there's a reception in Kuala Lumpur on May 31. The wedding date was not delayed to May on purpose," he said.
Ahmad Said also added that his daughter had been traumatised by his resignation as menteri besar.
Queried as to whether he will be appointed as a Senator, he said: "Let's not think about that now. I just want to rest after this."
Ahmad Said had resigned as Terengganu Menteri Besar on Monday following which Seberang Takir assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman was appointed as the new menteri besar and took his oath before the Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Syarqiyyah, Kuala Terengganu later the same day.
On May 13, Ahmad resigned from Umno and declared himself as an independent elected representative but changed his mind today by retracting his resignation and returned to the party. – Bernama, May 14, 2014.

Umno uruskan krisis Terengganu dengan lemah, kata Dr Mahathir

Kepimpinan tertinggi Umno perlu menangani kemelut politik di Terengganu secara berhati-hati dan menggunakan diplomasi agar parti itu dan Barisan Nasional (BN) terus mendapat kepercayaan mentadbir negeri itu.
Menegaskan demikian, bekas perdana menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (gambar) berkata, jika pemimpin Umno pusat menggunakan pendekatan yang “kasar”, ia hanya mengundang masalah seperti dilakukan bekas menteri besar Terengganu Datuk Seri Ahmad Said yang bertindak meninggalkan parti berkenaan.
"Kalau kita ambil tindakan yang kasar, bagi dia (Ahmad) kalau tinggalkan Umno, tiada masalah.

"Tidak seperti di sesetengah negeri, macam Johor, Umno sudah menjadi darah daging. Kalau orang di Kelantan pula, nak tinggalkan PAS dan Umno agak payah sebab pegangan mereka kuat.
"Kedua-dua pemimpin (di peringkat pusat dan negeri) mesti terima ada kesalahan di kedua-dua pihak," katanya kepada pemberita selepas menerima anugerah Doktor Kehormat dalam bidang pembangunan politik dari Universiti Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah di Jakarta hari ini.
Terengganu menjadi tumpuan selepas Ahmad yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Kijal dilaporkan keluar Umno selepas meletak jawatan sebagai menteri besar.
Adun Ajil, Ghazali Taib dan Adun Bukit Besi, Roslee Daud juga dilaporkan keluar Umno dan menjadi wakil Bebas berikutan krisis politik di Terengganu itu.
Roslee, bagaimanapun dilaporkan kembali kepada Umno semalam.
Ahmad menarik kembali keputusan beliau untuk keluar daripada Umno dan menjadi wakil rakyat Bebas, setelah berbincang dengan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak tengah hari tadi.
Turut menarik balik peletakan jawatan itu ialah Ghazali.
Di Terengganu, Dr Mahathir berkata tindakan pemimpin Umno keluar dari parti itu bukan isu besar berbanding di negeri lain.
Menurutnya, di Terengganu, tukar parti perkara biasa dan mereka gemar melakukan percubaan.
"Dia cuba Umno selepas itu dia cuba PAS. Lepas itu dia cuba Umno semula.
"Itu cara dia (orang Terengganu), jadi kita kena berjaga-jaga kerana dia mudah beralih. Ini karakter orang Terengganu."
Dr Mahathir yang juga bekas Presiden Umno berkata krisis politik yang berlaku di Terengganu itu berpunca daripada kelemahan parti Umno sekarang.
"Umno kini lemah. Sedikit sebanyak kerana pandangan (anggota) ialah (fokus) kerajaan terhadap masalah orang Melayu, masing-masing berkata, berkurangan kerana layanan yang kuat diberi kepada parti lawan dan orang Cina dan sebagainya.
"Jadi ini menimbulkan rasa tidak puas hati dalam kalangan orang Melayu.
"Bagi mereka sokong pun bukan kerana kepimpinan tetapi kerana tidak suka kepada parti lawan," katanya.
Dalam pada itu, Dr Mahathir berkata kepimpinan tertinggi Umno perlu memahami sentimen penyokong di peringkat akar umbi bagi memastikan parti itu terus mendapat sokongan terutama bagi menghadapi pilihan raya umum akan datang.
Beliau menegaskan pemimpin Umno tidak seharusnya mendengar bulat-bulat individu yang berada di sekeliling mereka sahaja, sebaliknya perlu memahami keluhan anggota parti yang sentiasa menyokong Umno.
"Pemimpin mesti sedar tentang perasaan orang di bawah. Jangan harap orang yang dekat sahaja. Kita kena tahu orang di bawah dia rasa macam mana.
"Rata-rata mereka tidak berpuas hati dengan cara dasar pentadbiran tetapi mereka tidak tahu macam mana nak gunakan saluran (menyuarakannya) kecuali melalui pilihan raya," katanya.
Dr Mahathir berkata sebenarnya Umno banyak melakukan kesilapan yang serupa, namun tidak ramai pemimpin parti itu yang berani tampil memperbetulkan kesalahan tersebut.
Ini menyebabkan kepimpinan tertinggi merasakan apa yang dilakukan mendapat sokongan, kata beliau.
"Umno jarang belajar... saya dah kata berkali-kali tetapi mereka tidak sedar. Kita akan kehilangan (kuasa) kerana Umno tidak belajar dan buat kesalahan yang sama," katanya. – Bernama, 14 Mei, 2014.

PAS tetap desak sidang DUN Khas Terengganu untuk tentukan majoriti sebenar

PAS tetap mendesak supaya sidang Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Khas diadakan walaupun ketiga-tiga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Umno sudah mengumumkan menarik semula keputusan keluar parti. Pesuruhjaya PAS Terengganu, Satiful Bahri Mamat berkata langkah tersebut bertujuan melihat sama ada menteri besar baru, Datuk Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman mendapat sokongan atau tidak.
"Dengan mengadakan Sidang DUN Khas ini kita akan dapat membuat pengesahan mengenai kedudukan serta sokongan mereka dan ia dapat menentukan kedudukan majoriti BN," kata beliau dipetik daripada Harakahdaily hari ini.

 

Semalam, PAS juga menggesa sidang DUN diadakan dengan membawa usul undi tidak percaya ke atas menteri besar itu.

Sekiranya majoriti menolak pelantikan Razif, satu pilihan raya negeri bakal diadakan.
Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) juga mengeluarkan kenyataan sedang bersiap-sedia berdepan dengan segala kemungkinan susulan perkembangan di Terengganu.
Satiful berkata krisis yang berlaku di Terengganu menunjukkan Umno dan Barisan Nasional (BN) berpecah serta lemah.
"Ini krisis dalaman BN itu sendiri, pelantikan Menteri Besar itu menunjukkan perpecahan di dalam BN khususnya Umno itu sendiri," katanya.
Menurut Satiful, krisis tersebut akan memberi keuntungan kepada Pakatan Rakyat (PR) untuk menawan semula negeri yang pernah mereka perintah pada 2004 dahulu.
"Krisis ini akan memberi keuntungan kepada Pakatan Rakyat untuk menghadapai Pilihan Raya Umum ke-14 akan datang," katanya.
Sementara itu, Setiausaha Agung PAS Datuk Mustafa Ali berkata PAS Pusat masih menunggu laporan daripada PAS Terengganu mengenai situasi terbaru itu.
"Sehingga hari ini kita belum menerima apa-apa laporan rasmi daripada PAS Terengganu. Apa-apa pandangan PAS negeri nanti perlu dikemukakan kepada PAS Pusat," kata Mustafa.
Krisis di Terengganu tercetus selepas bekas Menteri Besar Terengganu, Datuk Seri Ahmad Said mengumumkan keluar parti bersama dua lagi Adun.
Situasi tersebut menyebabkan BN hilang majoriti dan menimbulkan kebimbangan Terengganu akan jatuh kepada pembangkang, PR.
Bagaimanapun, perkembangan terkini menyaksikan krisis tersebut berjaya diselesaikan Presiden Umno, Datuk Seri Najib Razak yang mengadakan pertemuan dengan Razif bersama beberapa Adun lain.
Ahmad juga dalam sidang media sebentar tadi mengumumkan kembali ke pangkuan Umno bersama dua lagi Adun.
BN menguasai DUN dengan 17 kerusi, manakala Pakatan Rakyat memiliki 15 kerusi DUN, PAS 14 dan PKR 1.
Ahmad yang mengawal sesetengah pecahan dalam Umno Terengganu mengangkat sumpah sebagai menteri besar pada Mac 2008, walaupun Umno memilih Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.
Idris kini merupakan Menteri Pendidikan II dalam Kabinet Najib.
Tahun lalu, SPR berkata ketika Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Kuala Besut mereka tidak boleh campur tangan di Terengganu jika berlaku keadaan DUN tergantung disebabkan BN menang tipis.
Menurut SPR, terpulang kepada parti politik untuk menyelesaikan masalah itu. – 14 Mei, 2014.

Political crisis in Terengganu should have been handled diplomatically - Mahathir

JAKARTA: The Umno top leadership should have handled the Terengganu political crisis carefully, using diplomacy, so that Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) would continue to gain the people's trust in administering the
state.

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said if Umno leaders used a rough approach, it would only invite problems like former Terengganu menteri besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said's reaction of quitting the party.

"If we had acted harshly, it would not be a problem for him (Ahmad) to leave Umno. It (situation) is not like in some states like Johor, where Umno is already in the members' blood. In Kelantan, is is difficult for party members to quit PAS or Umno as they have strong faith in their party.

"Both leaders (at the federal and state levels) must accept the fact that mistakes had been made by both sides," he told reporters after receiving an honorary doctorate in political development from Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, here, Wednesday.

Also present at the ceremony was Malaysian ambassador to Indonesia, Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim. 

Terengganu became the focus of attention of late when Ahmad, who is also Kijal assemblyman, was reported to have quit Umno after he resigned as menteri besar on Monday following mounting pressure for him to step down.

Following this, Ajil assemblyman Ghazali Taib and Bukit Besi assemblyman Roslee Daud were also reported to have left Umno to become independents.

Roslee, however, reportedly returned to Umno on Tuesday.

Today, Ahmad withdrew his decision to quit Umno and become an independent elected representative after a discussion with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in the afternoon.

Ghazali also withdrew his earlier quit decision.

Dr Mahathir said in Terengganu, it was not a big issue for Umno leaders to quit the party compared to those in other states, because "in Terengganu, crossing over to another party is normal and they like to try. They would try to do it in Umno, then in Pas and in Umno again.

"It's their way, so we have to be careful as they can easily switch (party). It's their character."

Dr Mahathir, who is also former Umno president, said the political crisis in Terengganu arose because of the party's weakness.

"Umno is weak now. The feeling of (party members) is that it is focusing less on the problems of the Malay community but more attention being paid on opposition parties, the Chinese community and so on.

"Hence, there is dissatisfaction among the Malays. They support (Umno) not because of the leadership but because they dislike the opposition," he said.

Dr Mahathir said the Umno top leadership needed to understand the sentiments of the party supporters at the grassroot level to ensure continued support for the party, especially in facing the next general election.

He stressed that Umno leaders should not listen totally to the individuals around them, but should instead also listen to the grouses of members who always supported the party.

"These leaders must know the feelings of the grassroots. Don't just rely on people who are close to you.

"Generally, they (grassroots) are not satisfied with the way the administration policies are implemented but they don't know how to use the channels (to voice out their grievances) except through the general election," he said.

Dr Mahathir also noted that Umno had in many instances, made the same mistakes, but not many of its party leaders were brave enough to correct the mistakes, making the top leaders felt that whatever they did received support.

"Umno seldom learned....I've said this many times before but they still don't realise it. We will lose (power) if Umno does not learn and repeat those mistakes," he said.

Read more at: http://english.astroawani.com/news/show/political-crisis-in-terengganu-should-have-been-handled-diplomatically-mahathir-35826?cp

Video Ahmad Said: ...Najib mohon maaf, saya begitu jua... saya berjiwa sensitif..

Conjoined twins die in hospital

LAST BREATH: 2-year-olds Nur Shazwanie and Nur Shazrinie had heart problem

KEMAMAN:  ZULKIFLI Ngah had hoped   there would be a way to let his 2-year-old conjoined twin daughters to be separated. However, they died yesterday and he accepted it as fate. 

He said Nur Shazwanie and Nur Shazrinie died from a heart complication in Kemaman Hospital. They were admitted on Friday.

"I feel as though my life has been taken away. They had learnt to call me and my wife 'daddy' and 'mummy'."

Zulkifli, 43, said the twins were admitted because of fever and breathing difficulty. They failed to recover.

Zulkifli said he had contacted the specialist from the National Heart Institute, who had treated his daughters after learning they had heart complications.

"The doctor who had treated them when they were 4-month-old said they could only live about 2 years to 30 months."

The twins were buried at Kampung Bukit Kuang Muslim cemetery at 2pm yesterday.

Nur Shazwanie Zulkifli (left) and Nur Shazrinie died of a heart complication at Kemaman Hospital, Terengganu, yesterday. File pic

Read more: Conjoined twins die in hospital - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/conjoined-twins-die-in-hospital-1.398473#ixzz2kUJYAuJ2

29-year-old man tries to stab wife

KEMAMAN: A domestic quarrel almost turned into a stabbing incident when a 29-year-old man took out a knife and tried to stab his wife in Kampung Telaga Papan here on Sunday.

  District police chief Superintendent Che Suza Che Hitam said in the 12.10am incident, the couple had an argument after the husband accused the wife of having an affair with another man.

  He said several minutes later the unemployed  husband took out a knife and tried to stab the wife.

  "The couple was staying at  the husband's family house and his mother rushed into the room after hearing the commotion,"

  "The mother managed to calm both of them and the son went out of the house soon after that," he said.

   He said the 23-year-old wife who works as a cleaner lodged a report at the Kertih police station about two hours later.

  "In her report she claimed that the husband who have been jobless since a month ago, accused her of having an affair with another man. The matter had led them to quarrel several times before," he said.

  He said a team of policemen from the Kertih station picked up the husband for further investigation at the same house at around 2am.

  "The suspect tested positive for methamphetamine and have been remanded for four days for investigation under Section 506 of the Penal Code for intimidation," he said.

Read more: 29-year-old man tries to stab wife - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/29-year-old-man-tries-to-stab-wife-1.399060#ixzz2kUHhEha5

Saya Maafkan Orang Yang Memfitnah – UstaZ Satiful Bahri

DUNGUN -   Timbalan Pesuruhjaya PAS negeri Terengganu, YB UstaZ Satiful Bahari Mamat berkata, pihak yang menyebarkan berita palsu mengenai dirinya itu berniat jahat dan bertujuan untuk ‘menjatuhkannya’.

Namun begitu, beliau tetap memaafkan ‘berita bohong’ yang tersebar di alam ‘maya’ itu.

“Saya maafkan orang yang mendoakan saya sakit dan mati. Dia buat fitnah, saya yang dapat pahala,” katanya.

Beliau yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Paka, berkata demikian ketika mengulas ‘fitnah’ yang tersebar di internet bahawa beliau kini tenat kerana menderita barah hati tahap empat.

 “Saya memang tidak ada penyakit kanser hati, tetapi sakit hati dengan orang yang buat fitnah ini. Bab sakit mati ini tidak boleh dibawa bergurau apatah lagi jika pembawa fitnah itu orang Islam.

“Saya perasan berita palsu ini disebarkan sejak pilihan raya kecil (PRK) DUN Sungai Limau, Kedah untuk mengalih tumpuan dan perhatian orang ramai terhadap PRK itu.

 “Saya sangkakan ia akan berakhir selepas tamat PRK, namun ia ternyata meleset malah berita saya tenat dan hampir mati semakin hebat disebarkan,” katanya yang baru pulang menziarah kematian di Paka ketika dihubungi di sini, semalam.

Satiful Bahari berkata, penarikan dirinya daripada pencalonan sebagai Ahli Jawatankuasa PAS Pusat pada pemilihan parti itu akhir bulan ini juga menyebabkan pihak tertentu menyebarkan dakwaan tidak benar mengenai kesihatan dirinya.

“Saya dicalonkan untuk bertanding jawatan itu, tetapi saya menarik diri kerana sudah memegang banyak jawatan di peringkat negeri dan DUN. Oleh itu saya mahu menumpukan perhatian kepada jawatan dan tugas sedia ada.

“Penarikan diri saya bukan kerana saya menderita barah hati seperti digembar gemburkan. Tetapi tak mengapalah, saya terima saja orang fitnah saya dan saya tidak berhasrat membuat laporan polis,” katanya yang turut mengakui tidak mengenali individu yang menyebarkan berita palsu itu.

Laporan di beberapa laman blog mendakwa Satiful Bahari kini berada dalam keadaan tenat dan boleh mati pada bila-bila masa akibat penyakit barah hati tahap empat.

Laman blog itu turut menulis kenyataan yang mempersoalkan bagaimana PAS memilih seseorang yang menghidap penyakit dan tenat sebagai calon bertanding pada Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 (PRU-13), Mei lalu dan Barisan Nasional (BN) serta PAS kini perlu bersedia untuk menghadapi PRK.http://www.buletinonline.net

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