Keadilan's failure to appoint the party state chief for Terengganu yesterday has raised eyebrows. After a three-hour meeting yesterday, the supreme council announced the names of 13 state chiefs but was mum on the post in Terengganu.

The previous state chief, Kemaman's member of parliament Abdul Rahman Yusoff, decline the post following his election to the supreme council.

When contacted today, Abdul Rahman declined to comment beyond saying he would concentrate on servicing his constituency.

However, several sources said there is a concerted effort by the party's pro-Abim (Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement) faction to sideline Abdul Rahman.

"It is beyond our understanding that he wasn't appointed to any senior position in the party," said a source who requested anonymity.

The source added that Abdul Rahman belonged to Keadilan's 'rainbow' (multiracial) faction. He is not aligned to the ex-Umno group, pro-Abim or pro-Jim (Jemaah Islaah Malaysia) faction, and thus has very little support.

He added that the Kemaman MP was very much a loner who refused to be dragged into the party's inter-factional politics.

No offer made

Speculation is rife that Kuala Besut delegate Mohamad Amin will be appointed Terengganu state chief given his close links to the party's newly elected deputy president, Abdul Rahman Othman.

Mohamad and the deputy president are family friends and fellow comrades in Abim, a source said.

When contacted, Abdul Rahman Othman denied there were problems related to the appointment.

"No one has been appointed yet. We will only do so when we find someone suitable for the portfolio," he said.

"We'll also have to consider the competency of the person and whether the candidate accepts the position or not," he added.

Abdul Rahman Othman denied that an offer had been made to Mohamad Amin.

Yesterday, party president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said she would announce the name of the Terengganu state chief "when the time was right".

Another source said that Abdul Rahman Yusoff did not voluntary decline the post, but was asked to step down.

"He received a phone call from the deputy president telling him he is no longer the state chief," said the source, who also wish to remain anonymous.

The source said that appointing a pro-Abim man would pose many problems for Terengganu, especially in the party's dealing with PAS.

Terengganu is led by the Islamic-based party.

A pro-Abim man, the source said, would be a rival to PAS, and problems could come to light during election time.

"There would most certainly be problems of a three-corner fight in several constituencies - just wait and see," said the source.

New faces

Yesterday, six new members were appointed and seven incumbents retained as state chiefs. Thirteen of them were believed to have confirmed their appointments.

Among the new faces are former vice-president of technology multinational Seagate, Akashah Ismail, who is now Kedah chief, and former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim's former press secretary Khalid Jaafar, who has been named to head Malacca.

The other four, who are Wan Harizal Wan Hadzim (Perlis), Ibrahim Yussof (Negeri Sembilan), Aziz Sardan (Johor) and Tasek Cini assembly representative Jafri Abdul Rashid (Pahang).

One of those retained were lawyer Zainur Zakaria, who remains as Federal Territory state chief. When asked if he would accept any appointment, he told malaysiakini earlier this week, "Don't listen to rumours".

The others are vice-president Azmin Ali (Selangor), Hafsah Harun (Sarawak), Saidatul Badrul Tun Syed Kruak (Sabah), Halil Akashah (Perak) and Mansur Othman (Penang).

The party however failed to fill three other positions which have been left vacant - the two remaining vice-president posts and information chief.