BN may have to dissolve Terengganu assembly as more reps rumoured to quit

(Malay Mail Online) – Barisan Nasional (BN) may be forced to seek the dissolution of the Terengganu assembly amid talk that at least three more Umno assemblymen will soon quit their party, bringing the total number of resignations to six.

According to a Terengganu PAS federal lawmaker, rumours are now swirling over the possible resignations of Datuk Mohd Jidin Shafee (Permaisuri), Nawi Mohamad (Hulu Besut) and Rosli Othman (Kemasik).

But in a text message to The Malay Mail Online, Rosli denied the rumours, saying, “No I’m not about to leave my party. As those who are leaving pls ask them”.

At the time of writing, both Mohd Jidin and Nawi could not be reached for comment.

Another PAS source claimed that Umno will lose up to eight state lawmakers, but no further details were offered.

A message is also being circulated among Terengganu lawmakers, claiming the state’s newly-installed Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman will soon seek consent from the Sultan to dissolve the state assembly.

The monarch, as in the case of Perak in 2009, may then choose to give consent to the formation of a new government, without putting the matter to vote in the state legislative asssembly.

Ahmad Razif could not be reached for comment.

As it stands, BN just has 14 seats in Terengganu to Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) 15, and three independents.

Umno has officially lost a total of three state lawmakers since yesterday.

In the 2009 Perak constitutional crisis, PR lost control over the northern state when three assemblymen defected to become BN-friendly independents.

Then PR-appointed mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin was unceremoniously booted from his post and replaced by Umno’s Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir.

Zambry was lifted to the post after 31 state assemblymen offered their support to the BN leadership before the Perak Sultan. Perak has 59 state seats.