PUTRAJAYA, May 16 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today the recent political developments in Terengganu serve as a lesson that has paved the way for strengthening the Barisan Nasional leadership in the state.
Najib, who is also Umno president and BN chairman, acknowledged that the developments were due to a miscommunication between him and former menteri besar and Kijal assemblyman Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, but the matter had been resolved.
“It was due to a little miscommunication, but we were able to resolve it quickly. “I regard what has happened as a lesson and an opportunity for us to strengthen the leadership in Terengganu so that we have greater unity and are more matured to struggle on and ensure rising support from the people for the BN,” he told a press conference.
Earlier, Najib opened the Auto Forum 2014 of Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad (PUNB) at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC).
Terengganu’s political events
Last Monday, Ahmad resigned as the menteri besar and Seberang Takir assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman was sworn in as the new menteri besar. Early the next day, Ahmad said he had quit Umno.
Subsequently, two other assemblymen, Ghazali Taib (Ajil) and Roslee Daud (Bukit Besi), also reportedly quit Umno. All three declared they had become independent assemblymen in a 32-seat state legislative assembly that has 17 representatives from the BN, 14 from PAS and one from PKR.
A day later, Ahmad, Ghazali and Roslee said they had returned to Umno. Najib expressed his appreciation to Ahmad, Ghazali and Roslee for having placed party interests above everything else.
Najib to attend Ahmad Said’s daughter’s wedding
“I also wish to express my thanks to all the Terengganu BN assemblymen for having stated their undivided support for me and Ahmad Razif,” he said. Najib said he would attend the wedding reception of Ahmad’s daughter on Saturday in Teluk Kalong, Kemaman.
Asked what made Ahmad return to Umno, Najib said the matter was resolved after he heard Ahmad’s explanation by telephone. He said he and Deputy Prime Minister and Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin thought that the wedding reception had been held on May 10 and they were not informed that there was another event on Saturday.
“There was a miscommunication. The matter was resolved after the explanation,” he said. Najib said Ahmad also informed him that he loved Umno too much to have even
thought of leaving it.
The prime minister acknowledged that he was surprised to learn at first that Ahmad had quit the party. “I felt that eventually he would realise that as party members, we are
subject to party discipline. We must place the party’s interests above everything else,” he said.
Asked whether the political developments in Terengganu would serve as a benchmark in facing challenges in the future, Najib said every situation differed. “The important thing is to ensure discipline in the party. We have to maintain and strengthen this discipline. No party will be successful without discipline,” he said.
– BERNAMA
