Monday March 24, 2008
BN reps protest against Ahmad’s appointment
By R.S.N. MURALI and PAUL CHOO
KUALA TERENGGANU: Kijal assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Said received his letter of appointment as the new Terengganu Mentri Besar at Istana Tetamu here on Sunday as the state's 22 other Barisan Nasional assemblymen staged a 500m walk outside in a show of protest.
The assemblymen favour Jertih assemblyman and former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh to be their Mentri Besar.
Inside the palace, Ahmad, 51, received the letter of appointment from Regency Advisory Council chief Tengku Sri Panglima Raja Tengku Baderulzaman in a closed-door ceremony at 8.20am.
Two other members of the council – Tengku Sri Laksamana Raja Tengku Sulaiman Sultan Ismail and former Federal Court Judge Datuk Abdul Kadir Sulaiman – witnessed the ceremony.
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Swamped by the media: Reporters asking Idris (right) and Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Jamaluddin Jarjis questions after the council met for a meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence in Putrajaya yesterday. — Bernama |
The palace has yet to fix the date for the swearing-in of the new Mentri Besar.
The scene outside the palace was tense when the 22 assemblymen, led by Umno liaison committee secretary Datuk Rosol Wahid, arrived to hand over a protest letter over the appointment to the council.
They were prevented from entering Istana Tetamu and Rosol handed the note to council secretary Shafie Ali.
The palace grounds were placed under tight security. All media members were also barred from entering the palace except for Bernama photographers.
Ahmad was seen entering the palace in a 4WD vehicle at 7.30am, escorted by police officers, and left at 8.45am. He declined to speak to journalists.
A visibly-upset Rosol said the note, among others, stated that all the 22 assemblyman were unanimous in wanting Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh retained as Mentri Besar.
“Ahmad’s appointment is invalid and we hope those concerned will look into our feelings as the matter also involves the interest of the electorate,” he said.
Rosol said that if Ahmad had accepted the letter of appointment as Mentri Besar then Ahmad would risk being stripped of his Umno membership for disobeying the directive of the party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
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