By Syed Jaymal Zahiid
PUTRAJAYA, Sept 10 — Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today said the party leadership will do its best to solve the Terengganu Umno crisis after Hari Raya.
“We need to settle this problem as soon as possible. The sooner the better... any solution to the problem will be conducted after Hari Raya,” he told a press conference held after chairing the National Social Council meeting here this morning.
Muhyiddin, who is Umno’s No 2, has acted as the mediator between the two warring factions: one led by Menteri Besar (MB) Datuk Ahmad Said and the other by former MB, Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.
The rift, which started after Ahmad was appointed MB after the Terengganu palace refused to reappoint Idris, reached its peak when three assemblymen linked to Idris received a threatening message allegedly from the menteri besar’s senior aide Wan Ahamad Wan Muda.
The threat led to a boycott of a state assembly seating but ended after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak urged the pro-Idris lawmakers to attend the assembly.
Attempts to unite both camps proved futile after the crisis escalated into threats of defection to Pakatan Rakyat by nine Umno assemblymen.
Should the party leadership fail to fix the crisis, the defections would see the oil-rich state falling into the control of the opposition.
Muhyiddin today again urged supporters from both sides to remain calm and bury their differences, to unite and focus on carrying out the mandate given by Terengganu voters them instead of fighting with each other.
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