PUTRAJAYA: Terengganu Men-teri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said yesterday met Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, over the dispute among the state Barisan Nasional backbenchers.

He was seen entering the fifth floor of the Prime Minister’s Office about noon, accompanied by a few officers.

Reporters covering a meeting between Najib, who is also BN chairman, and Malaysian Golf Association leaders over the national junior development programme, saw Ahmad walking into a guest room.

Minutes later, Muhyiddin, who is Umno deputy president, walked into the same room and was greeted by Ahmad. The two of them later went to see Najib.

Contacted after the meeting, Ahmad refused to comment.

He left about 30 minutes later.

The separate meetings are believed to have been held by Najib and Muhyiddin to resolve the dispute between Ahmad and other BN backbenchers.

Eight BN assemblymen were absent at Tuesday’s Terengganu assembly sitting, reportedly because of death threats sent to several members. They showed up on Wednesday after Najib instructed them to do so.

Ajil assemblyman Datuk Rosol Wahid, along with seven other BN assemblymen, Datuk Din Adam (Bukit Besi), Alias Abdullah (Alur Limbat), Ramlan Ali (Jabi), Mohd Ariffin Abdullah (Paka), Muhammad Ramli Nuh (Tepoh), Mohd Zawawi Ismail (Kuala Berang) and Abdul Halim Jusoh (Permaisuri), failed to attend the sitting on the second day.

Rosol told the New Straits Times that he and the seven BN backbenchers would leave it to the leadership to settle the dispute.

He said he and other assemblymen had lost faith in Ahmad due to “various problems and weaknesses” in his leadership.

“There are just too many problems which reflect his weaknesses in administering the state.

“There are also endless problems with the operations of government-linked companies.

“We want him to be replaced. It is up to the leaders to decide but we have made our intention clear,” he said.

The New Straits Times