CONFIDENT: Datuk Ahmad Said waving to his supporters at his house yesterday. -- PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NETWORK NEWS NETWORK
Datuk Ahmad Said said he is the legitimate Menteri Besar of Terengganu and will go to his office at Wisma Darul Iman at 8am today to officially assume his role.
He said his appointment was in accordance with the state's laws and that he did not need to be sworn in for the post.
Malaysiakini news website reported that the Kijal state representative has managed to convince 13 out of the 22 Barisan Nasional state represen- tatives in the 32-seat assembly to back him for the post.
Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) won eight seats and its leader has fully supported Datuk Ahmad's appointment. In a statement, party president Abdul Hadi Awang urged 'the people of Terengganu to respect the wishes of the palace for the sake of stability and prosperity in the state'.
At a massive gathering at his house in Teluk Kalong, Kemaman, yesterday afternoon, Datuk Ahmad told his supporters: 'I never dreamt of being the Menteri Besar of Terengganu.
'I will work hard,' he promised.
He also hoped that state Umno members would not continue with the fracas that has engulfed the state and would lend him their support.
He said that not all assemblymen were against him, adding that he also had the support of the rakyat (citizens).
'Ask the people here if they agree with my appointment, and I'm sure you'll find that a majority of them are behind me,' he said, receiving cheers from several hundred supporters.
THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK