Terengganu speaker rejects ex-MB’s no-confidence motion against successor

The Terengganu assembly speaker has rejected a no-confidence motion tabled by Kijal assemblyman and former menteri besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said against his successor Datuk Ahmad Razif, Bernama reported today. Speaker Mohd Zubir Embong said Ahmad Said did not follow the procedure when he proposed the motion. Ahmad Said had tabled the motion close to the afternoon recess today. The assembly speaker then postponed the session until 2.30pm. "Article 15/6 of the Terengganu state constitution states if the menteri besar no longer has majority confidence in the state assembly, then, unless with decree from the sultan to dissolve the state assembly, he should offer the resignation of the state executive council," the former menteri besar said. Terengganu has 32 state assemblymen, comprising 17 from Barisan Nasional (BN), including Ahmad Said, 14 from PAS and 1 from PKR. If Ahmad Said withdraws support from BN, there will be equal number of state representatives from both the ruling party and the opposition. One opposition member, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang – who is also Rhu Rendang assemblyman – was not present today. Another PAS assemblyman said Hadi left for Kuala Lumpur. With Hadi absent, the opposition, with Ahmad, would need two more assemblymen on their side in order for the motion to succeed. – March 8, 2016.