Embattled Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Said who has a revolt in his hands from his own party men said he does not know why 10 BN state representatives were absent from the state assembly today.

He also said he was not aware of any threatening SMSes which three of the 10 Barisan Nasional state assemblypersons had received last night.

ahmad said terengganu mb pc 230408 04 "I just returned from Kemaman at about 2.30am. I don't know anything about the SMS or the actions of the 10 representatives in not attending the assembly sitting today," he told reporters during a recess of the assembly.

Three state representatives - Paka assemblyperson Zakaria Abdullah, Abdul Halim Jusoh (Permaisuri) and Rosol Wahid (Ajil) - lodged police reports last night after receiving the SMS ‘death threats'.

They said that the SMSes tell them to "value their lives" and warned against moving a motion of no-confidence against the Ahmad. They also said that they knew the identity of the person who had sent the SMSes, stating that he was a senior government official.

The 10 state representatives then gave the assembly sitting a miss today, claiming that they were worried for their safety.

Talks were rife earlier this week that the BN representatives would move a vote of no-confidence against Ahmad, who was an unpopular choice to helm the state after the general election last year.

It is believed that he got the post because the Terengganu palace was not happy with Idris Jusoh, who still enjoyed the support of most of the BN representatives in the assembly.

Ahmad also said that he was not surprised by the actions of the 10 in not attending the assembly today. He added that he will not be contacting them to seek any clarification.

"Being absent from the assembly is common for politicians. I will not plead to them to attend tomorrow," he was reported to have said in Bernama .

When asked if any action would be taken against the senior government official accused of sending the threatening SMSes, Ahmad said it was up to the police to act.

"I don't dare to comment as I don't know the real story. I was only told about the police report this morning. Since it is a police matter, let them investigate," he said.

PAS: People have lost faith

Meanwhile, PAS' Batu Burok state assemblyperson Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi said the absence of the BN backbenchers in the state assembly sitting was clearly an indication of a loss of confidence in Ahmad Said.

jom bersih venue change 010208 syed azman He said that it was only logical that Ahmad Said resigned from his post or call for a fresh state election to settle all the grievances related to his leadership.

"What happened today is a signal to the menteri besar, whom the people have lost faith in," said Syed Azman ( photo ).

He also played down the issue of death threats received by the three BN state assemblypersons, stating that the matter was simply "a play of words... the underlying reason however remains".

"The infighting within Umno in Terengganu is very intense... the relationship between the leaders is deteriorating and setting a bad image for the state government," he added.

Speaking on behalf of PAS of which he is a central committee member, Syed Azman said: "We see this as a very sad episode as it is a continuity of what is happening within Umno but it does not benefit the people or the state of Terengganu."

Of the 32 seats in the state assembly, BN controlled 24 while opposition PAS has eight. The assembly sitting started yesterday and will end tomorrow.