Ahmad Said not quitting Umno despite failing to oust Terengganu MB

Former Terengganu menteri besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said said he would not quit Umno despite failing to oust his successor in a no-confidence motion yesterday, The Star Online reports. He said if he had the intention to leave the party, he would have done so a "long time ago". "If I was bad, I would have done it a long time ago. "It would have been much easier for me to leave, plus that would see a change in the ruling party," he said, according to report. Terengganu has 32 state assemblymen, comprising 17 from Barisan Nasional (BN), including Ahmad Said, 14 from PAS and one PKR. If Ahmad Said withdraws support from BN, there will be equal number of state representatives from both the ruling party and the opposition. "All we want is a change in menteri besar. It is not about having PAS or any other opposition party ruling the state. "BN can still rule even if there is a change in menteri besar," he was quoted as saying. Yesterday, at the state legislative assembly, he pushed for a no-confidence motion against Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman. The motion was rejected by Speaker Mohd Zubir Embong, who said Ahmad Said did not follow the procedure when he proposed the motion. Ahmad Said had tabled the motion close to the afternoon recess. The speaker then postponed the session until 2.30pm. "Had there been a vote, we would have accepted Ahmad Razif with open arms if he had won. "But if he had lost, then change the MB. It is simple," Ahmad Said added, but did not say how many of the other assemblymen would support his motion. Razif replaced Ahmad Said in May 2014 after the latter was forced to resign. Ahmad Said nearly caused a crisis in the state when he announced his decision to exit Umno following his forced resignation. He retracted his decision to quit the party shortly later. – March 9, 2016.]]>