Ahmad Razif remains MB, says Najib after palace meeting

PM Najib ends speculation about Terengganu govt after sultan strips Ahmad of his royal honours and titles.

KUALA LUMPUR: Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman will stay on as Terengganu Menteri Besar, said Umno president Najib Razak today after an audience with the Sultan, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.

Ahmad Razif’s position had been in doubt after he was stripped of his royal honours and titles last week by the sultan.

Najib, who is Barisan Nasional chairman and Umno president, said the decision to retain Ahmad Razif was made after his audience with Tuanku Mizan yesterday.

He hoped that this casts a light over any shadow of doubt on Ahmad Razif’s position as MB, and that the latter would not be distracted from doing his job.

When asked if Ahmad Razif would regain his titles, Najib merely said he did not want to get involved in the matter as it was the Sultan’s decision.

Ahmad Razif had vowed to stay loyal to the Sultan, pledging that the interests of the people of Terengganu would continue to be a priority for him as long as he was still in office.

Speculation about his position, and the possibility of a change of government arose because of Umno’s slim two-seat majority over PAS in the state assembly, and an attempt to table a motion of no confidence in Ahmad Razif, brought by his predecessor Ahmad Said.

However, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has rejected any notion joining hands with Umno to form a new state government.