Ten Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen took an unexpected move by not attending the second day of the State Legislative Assembly sitting today.
They are Tepoh assemblyman Muhammad Ramli Noh, Mohd Zawawi Ismail (Kuala Berang), Abdul Halim Jusoh (Permaisuri), Datuk Din Adam (Bukit Besi), Datuk Rosol Wahid (Ajil), Alias Abdullah (Alor Limbat), Zakaria Abdullah (Paka), Ramlan Ali (Jabi), Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh (Jertih) and Mohd Pehimi Yusof (Kota Putera).
Those inside the legislative assembly at the start of today’s proceedings were Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said, 10 executive council members, three BN assemblymen and eight opposition members from PAS.
Their move was believed to be related to the text message received by Abdul Halim, Zakaria and Rosol yesterday.
Speaking at a news conference at a hotel here, Rosol said they would only attend the sitting if their safety was assured.
The news conference was attended by all assemblymen, except for Idris.
Rosol said that he and two others received threats via short messaging service on Monday night which says, “baik jangan teruskan niat YB, YB tak sayang nyawa?” (if you value your life, you had better not go ahead with it).
Rosol, who is the Terengganu backbenchers club chairman, claimed that the text message was sent by a state government officer based on the number available on the government diary.
The three had lodged a police report early today.
He said that the text message could be related to the talks BN assemblymen would table a motion of no confidence against the menteri besar in this sitting.
“I would like to explain that we have never discussed about the matter. I don’t know from where the information comes from that there will be a no-confidence motion in this assembly sitting,” Rosol said.
It was reported that the menteri besar had given a stern warning that disciplinary action, including sacking, would be taken against BN assemblymen if a no-confidence motion was tabled against him at the state assembly.
Terengganu has 32 state seats, of which eight are controlled by the opposition.
Earlier during question time, Datuk Tengku Hassan Tengku Omar (PAS-Ladang) asked Speaker Datuk Tengku Putera Tengku Awang why many assemblymen were absent.
Tengku Putera replied that he did not know and that he would asked for explanation from those involved.
