An independent opinion poll on the Kuala Terengganu by-election has indicated that a large number of key voters in the east coast state are only “somewhat satisfied” with the performance of first-term Terengganu Mentri Besar Ahmad Said.

According to the survey conducted by Merdeka Center with a sample size of 527 voters, 40 percent of Malay voters and 34 percent of Chinese voter were satisfied with Ahmad.

merdeka centre kuala terengganu survey issues ahmad said 150109 However, only three percent of the Chinese minority said that they were very satisfied with the mentri besar while 23 percent of the Malays were “very satisfied” with him.

Nevertheless, the uncertainty could be because the mentri besar has only been in power for about 10 months.

“Ahmad Said has not had enough time to make an impact in Kuala Terengganu,” said independent political analyst Khoo Kay Peng.

“ As he was the choice of the palace, he assumed the position of menteri besar without much support from the various Umno factions,” he opined.

The survey also quizzed respondents on their perception whether the country was heading towards the “right or wrong direction” and a majority of the voters gave a positive feedback with 70 percent of Malays and 50 percent Chinese saying that the state was moving in the “right direction”.

Emphasis on simplicity, humility

ahmad said terengganu mb pc 230408 03 Nevertheless, issues like cronyism and nepotism, inflation and high cost of living, political and economic stability as well as racial equalities were some of the reasons given by those who felt that the state was in the “wrong direction”.

Overall, the majority was “somewhat satisfied” with 57 percent of the Chinese and 42 percent of the Malays contended with state governance and performance.

Ahmad's appointment as mentri besar of oil-rich state sparked a controversy after the general election in March.

After the elections, Terengganu's 22 Umno assemblypersons as well as Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had wanted to retain incumbent menteri besar Idris Jusoh.

merdeka centre kuala terengganu survey issues terengganu state govt 150109 Ahmad, who is also the Kijal state assemblyperson, was however the choice of the palace for the post and later sworn in to helm the state government.

“The purchase of the Mercedes fleet for state exco members was an incident which did not augur well for Ahmad,” said Khoo.

Khoo was referring to the request by the Terengganu state government to replace Proton Perdanas for 14 Mercedes Benz E200 Kompressors on the ground of cost-cutting.

“Local Malays in Kuala Terengganu place great emphasis on simplicity and humility of their leaders.

“They are familiar with PAS leaders, whose humility they admire. Ahmad does not come across as one possessing such a quality but instead, appears rather aloof,” he added.