PAS chief Abdul Hadi Awang was today summoned by the Terengganu palace for an audience with Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Mahmud Al Muktafi Billah Shah.

According to a close aide, Abdul Hadi's visit to the palace at about 11am was "a courtesy call".

"It is only a kunjungan hormat , nothing more to it. Don't believe the SMS that is being forwarded. He wanted to convey his gratitude to the Sultan, 42, for his four years as menteri besar," said the aide, on condition of anonymity.

"Don't believe the rumours and speculation spreading via SMS (short messaging service). These are not true."

Rumours are spreading via SMS and by word of mouth that Idris Jusoh, Terengganu Umno liaison chief and the Barisan Nasional nominee for the menteri besar's post, is not favoured by the ruler.

One SMS rumour is that the sultan has refused to endorse Idris' appointment as the new MB until the allegation that he has 'bought off' 70,000 phantom voters is cleared first.

Word on the ground is that the Terengganu royalty wants a 'cleaner candidate' as the new MB.

Idris could not be reached for comment but state Umno assistant liaison officer Razali Bidin said he had no doubt that Idris would be sworn in as scheduled on Thursday, along with members of the state legislative assembly.

"Putrajaya has faxed over his appointment letter. Furthermore, he already had an audience with the sultan yesterday evening," he said when contacted in Kuala Terengganu.

Two interpretations

Hadi's aide also described the delay in swearing-in the new MB as a "technical matter".

"The sultan will sign it (the appointment letter) on Thursday. There is nothing about rejecting Idris as MB," he said.

"We accept the (electoral) decision, although we have grave complaints regarding the electoral process itself."

Abdul Hadi is also expected to convey the same message at a ceramah (political talk) in Kuala Terengganu tonight.

"Now, we want to focus on exposing the flaws in the Election Commission's conduct of the election," added his aide.

However, a PAS supreme council member said that until the new MB is sworn in, Abdul Hadi is technically still the MB.

"Scores of dissatisfied locals in Terengganu have gathered in the state capital demanding for a re-election in the state," said the PAS leader when contacted in Kota Baru earlier.

He claimed that the meeting at the palace was to obtain Abdul Hadi's opinion on the suitability of Idris as the new MB.

"Many allege that massive electoral fraud was the reason for the BN's victory in getting back the state," said the leader, who was in touch with counterparts in Terengganu.

Another party insider said the overall situation in Kuala Terengganu was still tense because the public "simply cannot accept" the election results.

"We are trying to calm the people down by appealing to them not to take matters into their own hands," he said.

Meanwhile, the state Police Chief Md Lazim Ahmad, at a press conference, warned rumour-mongers that they could be charged under the Sedition Act or Internal Security Act, as well as the Telecommunication and Multimedia Act 1998.

Offenders are liable to be fined up to RM300,000 or jailed for not more than three years or both, Bernama reported today.