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KUALA LUMPUR - PRIME MINISTER Abdullah Badawi's political woes deepened yesterday after a desperate bid to avert a simmering constitutional crisis in Terengganu was rebuffed by the state's royal household.
The royal household is refusing to reappoint Datuk Seri Idris Jusuh as the Menteri Besar, whom the other Barisan Nasional state assemblymen are backing.
Instead, it is determined to appoint little-known Datuk Ahmad Said, and could have him sworn in as early as today, in a move that could push Terengganu - which the BN won comfortably at the polls - into a full-blown constitutional crisis.
All the BN assemblymen yesterday warned they would boycott the ceremony if Datuk Seri Idris is not re-appointed.
Under the state Constitution, the head of the royal household must appoint as MB the person with the majority support of the legislative assembly.
Umno's face-off with the Terengganu household underscores Datuk Seri Abdullah's increasingly tenuous political grip following the BN's dismal showing at the polls.
Apart from signs of rebellion within Umno, the PM's troubles are being compounded by royal households who want to stamp their constitutional authority over key administration appointments.
Over the past week, the royal households of Perak and Perlis have disrupted the swearing-in of their chief ministers.
While the dispute in opposition-held Perak was resolved without too much controversy, Umno was forced to accept the Perlis royal household's choice.
The controversy in Terengganu carries serious implications for PM Abdullah.
Malaysia's King is selected by and from among his brother Sultans to reign for a period of five years. The current ruler is Terengganu's Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin.
As the Regent of Terengganu is a minor, decisions for the royal household are made by the Regency Advisory Council, which has played a crucial role in the ongoing controversy over the appointment of the state's MB.
Analysts say the opposition towards Datuk Seri Idris is largely because he does not enjoy good relations with the Terengganu royal household.
It is not clear why the Regency Advisory Council is keen on Kijal state assemblyman Datuk Ahmad.
In any case, analysts say that the less-than-cordial relations between Umno and the Terengganu royal household could hurt ties between PM Abdullah and the Conference of Rulers, which is headed by Sultan Mizan.
That in turn could turn the state-level constitutional crisis into a national problem.
ljlopez@sph.com.sg
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