The Malaysian Insight

AHMAD Samsuri Mokhtar has asserted his continued hold on power as the Terengganu menteri besar, amid talk of an internal plot for his ousting.

The Rhu Rendang assemblyman said there were no factions in the PAS state chapter as recently reported by the media.

“When I woke up this morning, I was still the menteri besar although there are 10 people said to be vying for the position… this issue does not arise.

“If there is anything else, let the police investigate,” he told reporters today in Kuala Terengganu after his political secretary, Muhyiddin Abdul Rashid  filed a police report over the news articles of a power struggle in the state PAS chapter.

Samsuri said the claims of an internal rift were nothing more than slander.

“There is no split.”

The Malaysian Insight reported on Tuesday Terengganu PAS was in the throes of an internal power struggle which could affect its chances at the next state polls.

Party insiders also said strained ties between the menteri besar and the Terengganu palace could also reduce PAS’ chances of keeping hold of the state in the next general election, said party insiders.

They said Samsuri was out of touch with state matters and hoping instead for a position in the federal cabinet.

The situation was so bad that Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation and Kuala Terengganu MP Ahmad Amzad Hashim was asked to mediate to ease tensions between Samsuri and the palace, said a source.

Amzad has denied taking on the role of mediator between the two warring parties.

Amanah mouthpiece Malaysia Dateline reported that Terengganu assemblymen had signed statutory declarations of lost confidence in Samsuri’s leadership.

The report quoting sources said Umno was working to persuade the state reps to remove Samsuri.

Umno swiftly denied the report through its state information chief Nik Dir Nik Wan Ku, saying it did not meddle in PAS’s internal affairs. – June 10, 2021.