Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman was surprised to be named for the office last Monday but stressed that there was no contract on his term of duty as MB of the oil-rich state.

 

In an interview with Berita Harian today, MB Ahmad Razif said that he knows of no plot behind the sudden replacement of his predecessor Ahmad Said  either.

Neither did he lobby for the position, claiming he has never discussed this with the PM.

 

"The prime minister doesn't know me at all. I have never even been to his office before this," Ahmad Razif told the government-owned daily.

 

"Even though it was played up by some, I personally didn't think that I would become the MB. For me, it was unreasonable... I received the letter of appointment on the afternoon of May 12 and I accepted it."

 

Ahmad Razif also refuted that he was Ahmad Said's ( right ) political rival.

 

"Truthfully, he is my sifu (teacher) and it was him that gave me a state executive committee (exco) position. He is like a brother and whatever problems I face, I refer to him. I have no qualms with him," he said.

 

Before this, the Seberang Takir assemblyperson was the Science and Technology, Environment, Energy, Green Technology and Water exco. He is also the Kuala Nerus Umno division chief.

 

Hours after Ahmad Razif was sworn in as MB, at least three Umno assemblypersons, including the man he replaced, Ahmad Said, were rumoured to be leaving the party, to go independent.

 

This sparked a 48-hour fiasco which threatened to make Ahmad Razif the most shortlived MB as BN and Pakatan Rakyat struggled to ascertain who really had control of the state assembly.

 

But PM Najib and Ahmad Said apologised to each other a day later, called it a misunderstanding, and no resignations took place.

 

In the interview with Berita Harian , Ahmad Razif also lauded PM Najib for his calm in tackling the crisis.

 

"I have experienced such a crisis before but when I heard the calm voice of the PM who did not show any panic at all... this gave me strength to overcome the situation," Ahmad Razif told the government-owned newspaper.

 

"In my heart, I knew they would be back... just had to give them some time to cool off."