Najib Abdul Razak's insistence that former Terengganu menteri besar Ahmad Said vacate the post days before his daughter's wedding shows that the prime minister failed to learn from history, Perkasa chief said.

Ibrahim Ali said that in "rushing" the decision, Najib forgot how people who are shamed in such a way can come back to haunt BN.

"I was dropped as Pasir Mas Umno chief without reason by (then prime minister) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. He humiliated me.

"I then contested in the 12th general election as an Independent candidate. PAS was saved by two seats and continued to govern Kelantan.

"Najib was Umno deputy president then... he should have learnt from history. In Terengganu, BN, too, had a majority of two seats," he said, recalling what happened to him in 2003.

Ibrahim was referring to Ahmad's statement that he quit Umno after Najib refused his request to postpone the MB swap until after Ahmad's daughter's wedding on May 17.

The former Pasir Mas MP said that instead of making a win-win decision, Najib rushed in without wisdom.

"Now it is too late," he said.

Meanwhile, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia political scientist Mohd Agus Yusoff, on a Facebook posting, described the reason given by Ahmad to leave Umno because he was hosting his daughter’s wedding as petty.

"Now the state legislature sees BN with 14 seats and Pakatan Rakyat 15, while there are three Independents.

"This may result in the state government to change.

"I think it is not proper that a change in government be decided by state representatives leaving the party.

"It is better that the assembly be dissolved to return the power to the people to decide in a state election.

"That is the best way, to uplift the practice of democracy," Mohd Agus said.

Umno leaders urge calm

Ahmad early today told Malaysiakini Najib had refused his request to postpone his resignation until after May 17 as it is a "personal" matter.

He later told Astro Awani that Najib was "heartless" in refusing this request that has also "saddened" his daughter.

"He is an elder, too, so he should understand these things... Now my daughter is getting married in such a situation.

"She is sad. I can withstand it, but what about my child?" he asked.

As at 3pm today, Ahmad and two other assemblypersons have quit Umno after he was replaced as menteri besar by Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman last night.

More are expected to follow suit. However, Pengkalan Berangan assemblyperson A Latiff Awang, who was initially speculated to leave Umno, was quoted by the New Straits Times as denying he had left the party.

This makes the Terengganu government a minority government with BN holding 13 seats and Pakatan 15. The three defected assemblypersons have declared themselves Independent.

Separately, Umno leaders have called for calm over the sudden developments.

"We have gone through worse before. I am certain Umno members there are mature enough...

"As before, we urge for calm and unity. God willing, everything will be okay.

"The party is bigger and more important than us all," Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein (right) said on Twitter.

No reports of disorder

Also responding to social media users on the issue was Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin, who urged the people of Terengganu to be patient.

"God willing, we will find the best way to solve this conundrum," Muhyiddin said on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that Terengganu police have received no report of disorder in the East Coast state following the political developments.

According to the national news agency, Terengganu Umno advised all party members to remain calm in the wake of the latest political developments in the state.

Its deputy chairperson Jailani Johari ( left ) said they should not resort to any action that would worsen the situation.

"Whatever we resolve to do must in the interests of the party," he said in a text message to Bernama .

Jailani, who is deputy communication and multimedia minister, said he hoped all Umno members in Terengganu would remain united and look forward to the best solution in the interests of all quarters.

Meanwhile, members of the media camped outside the Istana Nur Nadhirah in Kuala Terengganu to await the possibility of the dissolution of the Terengganu state legislative assembly following the latest political developments in the state.

The journalists swarmed the main entrance of the palace as early as 11am as they anxiously awaited the arrival of newly-appointed Menteri Besar Ahmad Razif amid speculation that he would seek the consent of the Sultan of Terengganu to dissolve the state assembly.

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