Only 2 independents now, Bukit Besi rep has changed his mind, says Shahidan

One of the three Umno Terengganu assemblymen who quit the party to become an independent assemblyman has returned to Umno, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (pic).

The Umno Supreme Council member said tonight that Bukit Besi assemblyman Roslee Daud has retracted his decision to leave the party and sit in the Terengganu legislative assembly as an Independent representative.

He said with this, BN still holds 15 seats in the Terengganu state assembly to Pakatan's 15, with two independents completing the assembly.

"Umno's position now is we have 15 seats, PAS 14, PKR one, and two independents," he told The Malaysian Insider tonight.

Roslee had this morning issued a statement that he was following former menteri besar Ahmad Said and Ajil assemblyman Ghazali Taib out of Umno to become independent representatives.

This was after Ahmad Said was replaced by Seberang Takir assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman, who was sworn in as the Terengganu menteri besar last night.

Their resignations left Razif with a minority government, as BN was reduced to 14 seats in the legislative assembly to Pakatan's 15, with the three new independents completing the state assembly.

Shahidan had earlier today urged Ahmad and the two other independents to come forward and discuss their problem with the party.

"Ahmad Said must be patient, I too have faced a similar situation when a third party did not wish for me to become menteri besar.

"Despite that, and the disappointment I felt, I did not leave the party," he said.

The ongoing political turmoil has forced deputy Umno president and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to meet with the former menteri besar this evening, according to sources.

The Terengganu crisis was triggered after Najib authorised Ahmad's resignation letter, which stipulated that he must step down a year after being reappointed the Terengganu MB, following the 13th general election last year.

The letter was to pacify Umno members who were not happy with Ahmad Said's leadership since he took over from Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh as Terengganu MB in 2008.

In his place, Razif, the Seberang Takir state assemblyman, was appointed the new menteri besar last night.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was said to have made the decision to appoint Razif despite pleas from Ahmad Said to remain as MB for another week to allow for his child’s wedding on May 17 to be held at the MB's official residence in Kuala Terengganu.