Terengganu Mentri Besar dismisses predecessor’s claims of electoral sabotage

KUALA TERENGGANU: The blame game between Mentri Besar Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman and Kijal assemblyman Datuk Seri Ahmad Said is heating up ahead of the much-awaited state assembly sitting on Monday.

Ahmad Razif yesterday rubbished allegations of sabotage and staging a “coup” during the last general election to undermine Ahmad, who was then MB.

“It is ridiculous to accuse me of sabotage or staging a coup to oust the mentri besar with the limited power I had then. Why would I do so?

“I was just a candidate at that time, and was concentrating on winning my own seat in Seberang Takir,” he said.

Ahmad Razif said Ahmad should just accept responsibility instead of trying to shift the blame onto others.

Ahmad, who has become a thorn in the side of Ahmad Razif’s administration, had blamed the latter for Terengganu’s dismal performance in the 2013 general election which saw Barisan Nasional winning only 17 seats against 14 by PAS and one by PKR.

The verbal exchange between the two Ahmads has added to speculation of a possible snap election being called in Terengganu.

Ahmad had claimed that Ahmad Razif knew of a coup to oust him as mentri besar.

He also alleged that Ahmad Razif had met him to inform him of the coup after the general election and repeated his demand that the mentri besar should resign.

Ahmad Razif, on his part, had riled his predecessor when he issued a statement suggesting that Ahmad was the reason for the “mother of all problems” that led to Barisan’s near-defeat in the state in the general election.

Barisan won in 2008 with 28 out of 32 seats.

Ahmad Razif said he had no intention to resign and that Ahmad, who had threatened to quit and join the Opposition, can do whatever he wants.

“If his actions lead a state election, we are confident of pulling off a bigger win. Dissolving the state assembly is a last resort and I hope we do not have to do that,” he said.

He also reminded Ahmad of his oath of loyalty to Umno and Barisan, a pledge that all assemblymen had taken during a meeting in Putrajaya.

The MB also thanked PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who had stated that his party was not interested in forming a government “by the side door” or to accept someone who wanted to jump from another party.

PKR assemblyman for Bandar, Azan Ismail, said Ahmad Razif could either resign or seek an audience with the Sultan to dissolve the state assembly.

Azan said important matters were being put on hold because of the political turmoil.

He said the state assembly was a place to discuss issues pertaining to the people and their welfare and “is not for a power struggle”.