Bernama reported early this morning that the 23 Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen in Terengganu who are against Kijal assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Said being appointed the state's Menteri Besar may resign if the latter is sworn-in to the post. According to Terengganu Umno liasion secretary Datuk Rosol Wahid in a press conference here Sunday night, said this might happen as his appointment did not get their support.

Based on the various statements issued by UMNO, it appears that no one is backing Datuk Ahmad Said as the new Menteri Besar, they preferring former Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh instead. Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh was the appointee by the Prime Minister of Malaysia but the Terengganu Royalty felt that Datuk Ahmad Said is more suitable and preferred to exercise their discretion instead.

Since UMNO Terengganu - specifically the 23 BN assemblymen, feels that they (the 23 assemblymen) represent the wishes of the people of Terengganu (since they won the majority of state seats) and that the Royalty is wrong in picking someone whom the people does not want to be their new MB, then they should walk the talk. Resign immediately and hold by-elections. Let the people's voices be heard again.

If the by-election shows that the people are willing to vote the 23 state assemblymen again, this means that the people of Terengganu are sending a strong message and plea to the Royalty that they want BN (UMNO, to be specific) to continue to govern the State and they want Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh to be their Menteri Besar. I am very sure the Royalty will, when this happens, take cognisance of the people's wishes and give the royal blessings to Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh to head the state government.

These 23 UMNO State Assemblymen should do the honourable thing to resign and allow a by-election process to take place and let the people's choice be known through it. Let the people decide whether they want to retain Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh as their Menteri Besar or somebody else. Will they now be willing to sacrifice self over personal interest? Or are they plainly trying to arm twist the Terengganu royalty?