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 ©New
Straits Times (Used by permission)
by T. N. Alagesh
• Ahmad Said's secret audience with Sultan to solve crisis
KEMAMAN, Mon: Terengganu Mentri Besar-designate Datuk Ahmad Said remains defiant
against calls that he went against the Umno leadership by accepting his
appointment to the post. Claims that he had been sacked from the party and he
was not in a position to accept the appointment, was “debateable”, he said.
"It is not so easy to sack someone from the party," he said
at this family home in Telok Kalong, Kijal here today. "I have never rebelled
against Umno, and in fact have been serving the party since my father's time.
There should not be any question about me being a penderhaka (rebel)
except maybe the confusion of what had transpired. I also know the rules and
regulations of the party and had never back stabbed anyone to be appointed to
this post."
Ahmad was speaking to reporters after he arrived here following an audience with
the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin in Kuala Lumpur earlier in
the day. Over 1,000 people gathered at the entrance of the Kemaman town to greet
Ahmad and his convoy of supporters, who had made their way here after a stopover
in Kuantan. Ahmad had during the stopover visited his mother, Wok Ali, 90, who
is now warded at the Kuantan Medical Centre for an illness.
However, Ahmad appealed to Umno leadership to rethink its stand against his
appointment. "I hope the Prime Minister and his deputy could have another look
at the issue as we all actually do not really want these upheavals. All that had
transpired was not due to what I want. There was nothing I can do as it is all
due to the will of Allah, and we have to accept it as it is."
Ahmad, who received his letter of appointment as Menteri Besar from the Regency
Advisory Council on Sunday, was reported to have been sacked by Umno for going
against the wishes of the party leadership which wanted State Liaison committee
chairman Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh to be reappointed as MB.
However, Ahmad insisted that his decision to accept the post
was backed by the majority of Umno members in Terengganu.
"As far as I am concerned, there should not be any problem when it comes to
support among the people of Terengganu. You can just go to any district in the
State and ask them...I am sure the majority do support my appointment."
Ahmad said he will proceed with his duties as warranted by his appointment and
will deal with any issues regarding to his appointment "one at a time".
“Now it is my responsibility to manage the affairs of the
state,” he said. “I will be in my office tomorrow to report for duty as the new
Menteri Besar of Terengganu."
However, Ahmad declined to comment on the threat by 22 Umno assemblymen that
they will resign if he proceeds to assume his post.
"I do not want to say anything about that for now,” he said. “All I can say is
that, not all of them had protested when it was made known that I was being
appointed to the post but they seems to have changed their stand later due to
certain circumstances. I will talk about the whole matter in length later."
Ahmad said among his first task was to reunite Umno members in Terengganu,
believing that with his years of experience in the party, members will
eventually support him.
Ahmad Said's secret audience with Sultan to solve crisis
by Anis Ibrahim  ROYAL RENDEZVOUS: The limousine with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin inside leaves Istana Terengganu in Jalan Kia Peng in Kuala Lumpur today, watched by the media horde. Tuanku Mizan had earlier gave an audience to Datuk Ahmad Said, the representative the Ruler picked as Terengganu Mentri Besar over Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh and triggered an impasse after Umno insisted that Idris was the rightful MB. It is believed that Ahmad held discussions with the Ruler to resolve the crisis behind his appointment. KUALA LUMPUR, Sat: In a meeting cloaked in secrecy, embattled Terengganu Mentri
Besar-designate Datuk Ahmad Said had an audience with the Sultan of Terengganu,
Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, this morning at Istana Terengganu in Jalan Kia Peng
here. Ahmad’s arrival and departure from the Istana Terengganu here where the
meeting was held went unseen by the Press.
It is learnt that he left the palace at 12.35pm via an
alternative exit to escape reporters who had been waiting to speak to him. All
attempts to contact Ahmad were unsuccessful but it is understood that the
purpose of the meeting is related to the current impasse over the appointment of
the new MB following the general election.
Ahmad, it is learnt, was instructed by the Federal Government not to make Press
statements due to "security reasons."
When the media arrived at Istana Terengganu at 11.15am, they were informed that
Ahmad was already inside waiting for Tuanku Mizan, who is also the yang
di-Pertuan Agong.
Tuanku Mizan’s limousine arrived at 11.35 am, accompanied by escort cars and
police outriders. Apart from a heavily-tinted blue Proton Perdana which exited
the palace at 1.22pm, no other cars were seen entering or leaving the premises.
Finally at 1.37pm, the King’s limousine emerged from the
palace gates, signalling that the meeting was over. Palace security personnel
informed the Press that Ahmad had indeed been inside all the while but left
through another exit.
Ahmad went into the bind after he accepted the appointment by Tuanku Mizan to
replace Idris as Mentri Besar, despite warnings from State Umno leaders that
acceptance was tantamount to a sacking. Even Prime Minister and Umno president
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who endorsed Idris, gave a similar warning.
However, Ahmad is adamant that his appointment had the support of some of the 22
assemblymen although he won't identify them. He is expected to sworn-in as MB on
Wednesday.
However, Pas has opposed the Government's interpretation of the events, citing
full support of the move by the Terengganu palace to appoint Ahmad as MB.
"The palace's decision is in accordance with the real wishes of the people of
Terengganu," Pas president Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang said today.
Later in the afternoon, Ahmad returned home to Teluk Kalong in Kemaman where he
was given a vociferous welcome by jubilant supporters who also escorted him in a
convoy to his house 10km away.
Declaring that he will begin his work as MB tomorrow, he said he never dreamed
that he would lead Terengganu. ”It is Allah’s will,” the Kemaman Umno division
chief said.
In KUALA TERENGGANU, police warned all parties affected by the controversial
appointment not to attend or hold any illegal gathering.
Terengganu police chief Datuk Ayub Yaakob said that no permit had been issued
for any quarters to hold a gathering.
While confirming that the situation across the state remained under control, he
urged the respective leaders and supporters to remain calm and avoid any
disruptive acts to prevent unwanted incidents.
“The police will not allow any gathering without a permit. We will not hesitate
to take stern action on those who go against police order,” he told Bernama
here.
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