KUALA TERENGGANU: Bukit Besi assemblyman Roslee Daud quit Umno Tuesday morning, joining ex-Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said and Ajil assemblyman Ghazali Taib to become independent reps.

This is confirmed by an aide of Ahmad, who added that there would be "more to come".

Late Monday, Ahmad quit the party hours after he was replaced by Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman as Terengganu Mentri Besar.

The Kijal assemblyman was soon joined by Ghazali.

Bernama is reporting that, Bukit Besi assemblyman Roslee Daud, who is also State Rural Development, Entrepreneurship, Cooperative and Consumerism Committee chairman, faxed the news agency a letter dated May 13 on Tuesday morning which read: "Please be informed that I hereby resign from my position in the party effective immediately."

Roslee's letter was addressed to Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and was courtesy copied to the State Assembly Speaker.

Former Mentri Besar Ahmad Said is expected to hold a press conference on Tuesday.

The latest developments leave Barisan Nasional with 14 state seats, one fewer than Pakatan Rakyat's 15 in the 32-seat assembly.

However, state legal advisor Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid has insisted that the state assembly Speaker was counted as a representative of the ruling state government, giving an equation of 15:15:3.

In the 13th General Election, Barisan won 17 state seats against Pakatan Rakyat's 15, and managed to win half of the eight Parliamentary seats in the state.

Earlier on Monday, Seberang Takir assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman, 49, took his oath of office before Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Syarqiyyah in Cendering here at 9.25pm.

This came hours after Barisan secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor officially confirmed the resignation of Ahmad as Mentri Besar.