Ahmad Said finally sworn in as Terengganu MB
Malaysiakini.com
Mar 30, 2008

updated 1.53pm Kijal state assemblyman Ahmad Said was sworn today as Terengganu menteri besar after three weeks of uncertainty following Barisan Nasional's worst ever electoral setback early this month.

terengganu and ahmad said and umnoThose who attended the swearing-in included the 22 ruling BN assemblypersons who until three days ago had refused to support Ahmad's appointment.

Also there was former menteri besar Idris Jusoh - the man whom Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had named as menteri besar, which was rejected by the Terengganu sultan.

Ahmad was sworn in by regent Tengku Muhammad Ismail Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin at the Istana Maziah in Kuala Terengganu.

The 10-year-old crowd prince stood in on behalf of his father, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, who is currently serving as Malaysia's Agung.

Will Idris be in state cabinet?

idris jusoh 01Ahmad, 51, who was in black traditional Malay attire, lost his composure at the end of ceremony as he hugged the man who he is replacing, Idris (left).

He also shook hands with all the other assemblymen, including eight opposition members from PAS.

It is believed that Ahmad had already submitted his list of assemblypersons to be picked as executive council members to Abdullah on Friday for approval.

It is unsure if former menteri besar Idris, who is Terengganu’s Umno chief, would be part of the new exco lineup.

Another swearing-in ceremony will be held in the coming days for the state exco members after the line-up has been finalised by Ahmad.

Ahmad's appointment was initially objected by Abdullah and Idris, but on Thursday Umno decided to back down and support the palace-backed Ahmad.

Fears of fresh polls

Previously, the 22 BN state representatives have openly supported Idris - who assumed the post after wrestling the state from PAS in the 2004 general election - to be retained as menteri besar.

In the recently concluded election, the Idris-led BN won 24 out of 32 state seats, with PAS bagging the remaining eight.

Political observers say Umno's dramatic turn-around on the crisis was partly because most of the state representatives had been silently supporting Ahmad.

The ruling party also fears that should the impasse continue, there is a likelihood that fresh elections be held in Terengganu at a time when Umno is still reeling from the March 8 general elections setback.

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