Barisan Nasional still holds power in Terengganu despite resignations: Report

(From left to right): Former Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, Bukit Besi assemblyman Roslee Daud and Ghazali Taib, Ajil assemblyman. - FILE PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK 
(From left to right): Former Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, Bukit Besi assemblyman Roslee Daud and Ghazali Taib, Ajil assemblyman. - FILE PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK 

KUALA TERENGGANU (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition continues to hold power in Terengganu despite three assemblymen from Umno having declared themselves as independents, state legal advisor Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid said on Tuesday.

He said that while the number of BN assemblymen had dropped from 17 to 14 and the opposition had 15 members in the state legislative assembly, the speaker was counted as a representative of the ruling state government, giving an equation of 15:15:3, Bernama news agency reported.

The three assemblymen who quit Umno to become independents are former menteri besar and Kijal assemblyman Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, who resigned from his post on Monday, and assemblymen Ghazali Taib (Ajil) and Roslee Daud (Bukit Besi).

Bernama quoted Mr Azhar as saying the speaker was counted along with the 14 BN assemblymen and so the BN remained in power in the state.

Seberang Takir assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman was sworn in as the new mentri besar before Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Syarqiyyah in Cendering on Monday night.

Mr Azhar said his office was looking at state legislation in relation to the ongoing political developments, according to Bernama.

Meanwhile, the Terengganu PAS Liaison Committee has convened a special meeting and state PAS commissioner Satiful Bahri Mamat said in a statement that "the necessary action is being taken" and "we will come up with the best solution to the crisis".

Opposition PAS has 14 representatives in the state legislative assembly and PKR, one.

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