T'GANU CRISIS: Permaisuri assemblyman Mohd Jidin denies quitting UMNO

Another Terengganu Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblyman from UMNO has denied that he is quitting the party to become an independent like three other UMNO elected representatives.

Datuk Mohd Jidin Shafee, the assemblyman for Permaisuri, said in a text message to Bernama that he was very much in UMNO. He is the chairman of the state tourism and culture committee.

Earlier Tuesday, Kemasik assemblyman Rosli Othman dismissed as a rumour news that he would resign from UMNO and declare himself an independent.

Rumours have been rife in the state after former menteri besar and Kijal assemblyman Datuk Seri Ahmad Said and two other BN assemblyman from UMNO - Ghazali Taib (Ajil) and Roslee Daud (Bukit Besi) - announced they had quit the party to become independents.

The resignations have left the Terengganu legislative assembly with 14 representatives from the BN, 14 from PAS, one from PKR and three independents.

Ahmad had resigned as the menteri besar yesterday and Seberang Takir assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman, 49, was sworn in last night as the new menteri besar.