From:
Date: 29 Nov 1999
Time: 23:43:05
Malaysia's PAS names Abdul Hadi as Terengganu chief minister
KUALA LUMUR, Nov 30 (AFP) - Malaysia's Islamic opposition party, which captured the oil-rich northeastern Terengganu state, named Abdul Hadi Awang as the state's chief minister, a top official said Tuesday.
Parti Islam Semalaysia (PAS) vice-president Mustafa Ali told AFP details of the swearing-in-ceremony would be made availabe late Tuesday.
PAS chief Fadzil Noor had sanctioned Abdul Hadi's nomination, he added.
PAS retained northern Kelantan state and wrested control of neighbouring Terengganu in northeastern peninsular Malaysia from Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's ruling National Front coalition in polls Monday.
Mustafa said Abdul Hadi, a 52-year-old PAS veteran who headed PAS in the electoral battle in the state, could be sworn in Wednesday or Thursday at the latest.
"I have been informed by the palace that the ceremony cannot be held today (Tuesday) as the head of protocol has indicated that His Royal Highness the Sultan wants the ceremony to be a historic occasion," he was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.
PAS, a key component of the opposition Alternative Front led by jailed deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, declared a public holiday in Terengganu as it announced the victory.
PAS won 28 of the 32 state seats and all eight federal parliament seats in the state.
Zainal Kling, a lecturer in the University of Malaya, said voters in Terengganu rejected the National Front, possibly because of the rapid development and tourism promotion in the state.