PETALING JAYA: The way forward for Terengganu is to hold fresh elections so that the Perak crisis will not be repeated, says political analysts.
Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng told FMT that the democratic process must be respected and power given to the people.
Kijal assemblyman Ahmad Said resigned as thementeri besar yesterday and declared himself as an independent after quitting Umno.
University of Nottingham political analyst Zaharom Nain said the only logical and moral thing to do was to dissolve the state assembly and hold fresh elections.
Comparing the current crisis in Terangganu to that in Perak in 2009, Zaharom said it was the Perak crisis “coming back to bite Barisan Nasional.”
The Perak crisis back then saw three Pakatan Rakyat state assemblymen defecting and the Sultan of Perak’s refusal to dissolve the state assembly.
“This time around he (Ahmad Said) sulked because he could not conduct a kenduri (festivity) for his child as menteri besar.
“It’s true what they say, two important things for the Malays are power and festivities,” said Zaharom.
He said there would be a lot of bargaining in the background and advised people to “eat popcorn and enjoy the unfolding drama”.
Although BN continues to hold power, two other state assemblymen, Ghazali Taib (Ajil) and Roslee Daud (Bukit Besi), had declared themselves as independents.
With the speaker counted as a representative of the ruling state government, there are now 15 BN representatives, followed by 15 Pakatan state assemblymen, and the three independents.
Kit Siang calls for snap polls
DAP’s veteran leader Lim Kit Siang also said that there was no other way to resolve the current impasse except to hold a fresh election.
“With the resignation of Ahmad Said, Ghazali Taib and Roslee Daud, from Umno, there is no political party with a working majority,” the Gelang Patah MP said.
The DAP stalwart highlighted three possible scenarios that could happen in the state but firmly concluded that snap elections was the answer.
“Firstly Ahmad Razif conceding that he has lost the majority in the state assembly and the mandate given to him to form a new state government.
“Secondly, the possibility of Pakatan Rakyat forming a government in Terengganu. Pakatan now has 15 seats compared to BN’s 14.
“Third is to have elections for the voters in Terengganu to decide the political future of the state and as there is no solution in the first two, a new state election is needed to resolve the impasse,” he added.
Earlier today, State Legal Advisor Azhar Abdul Hamid said that BN continues to hold power in Terengganu despite three of its Adun from Umno left the party.
