Umno's supreme council decision last week to replace four Umno division chiefs in Kelantan - Pasir Mas, Bachok, Kubang Kerian and Kuala Krai - will not overcome the party's woes, said PAS leaders today.

According to them, the problem with Kelantan Umno is not so much the division chiefs, but the party's state leadership.

PAS Kubang Kerian MP Husam Musa suggested that Umno's attempts to revive the party as a viable opposition to the PAS-led state government would be wasted if these replacements were the extent of efforts to bring about change.

"If these changes are meant to bring a new image to Umno Kelantan, then these changes are very cosmetic. It's the top leadership in Kelantan Umno who need to go," he told malaysiakini .

Referring to Umno state chief Mustapha Mohamad and his deputy Zaid Ibrahim, Husam said that efforts should be focused on improving their image and for the duo to prove their worth instead of putting the blame on lesser figures.

"The leadership of Mustapha ( left ) and Zaid ( right ) has not been accepted by most people in Kelantan. They need to improve their leadership qualitites, not cut off the heads of others."

If Umno really wanted to improve its chances at the upcoming general election, then serious issues, such as that of corruption among the party's state leaders need to be tackled, he said.

Husam cited the former Kelantan Umno deputy chief Anuar Musa, whose 1997 case involving the 'unexplained loss' of RM600 million from agricultural agency Risda during his tenure as minister for rural development, has yet to be settled.

"There are more serious problems with Umno figures in Kelantan that should be dealt with, such as the case of Anuar Musa. Nothing has been done about that," he said.

'Politics of revenge'

Husam said that another main consideration in the failure of Kelantan Umno to make significant inroads into the PAS stronghold is the political squabbling among Umno leaders in the state and the 'politics of revenge'.

Mustapha has not forgotten attempts by Ibrahim last year, and efforts ever since, to contest his leadership in the state, nor the efforts by Bachok division chief Shahbuddin Mohd Noor to block his attempts to gain headway in Bachok, said Husam.

"That is why Mustapha had to be transferred to Jeli. The replacement last week of Ibrahim and Shahbuddin is just a case of 'old revenge'," says Husam.

Husam's sentiments were echoed by PAS' Kuala Terengganu MP Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi.

"Politics of revenge and infighting within Umno Kelantan is much more fierce than even their fight with PAS," Syed Azman said.

"We all remember last year when Ibrahim Ali and his group try to topple the leadership of Mustapha Mohamad, and the people of Kelantan also know the kind of leader Anuar Musa is.

"Not much can be done because their image is already tarnished. Umno Kelantan is a gone case."

Syed Azman believes, however, that the likes of such Umno veterans as Ibrahim Ali, who was replaced in his Pasir Mas division by incoming Rahim Abdul Rahman, would not accept their fate quietly.

"Knowing him, and I've known him for quite some time now, Ibrahim is not going to take this quietly."

Ibrahim's supporters, it seems, have already expressed their displeasure in what they see as the summary dismissal of their leader.

According to reports, they have been flying banners on the Sultan Yahya Petra Bridge in Pasir Mas cynically announcing their appreciation at Umno supreme council's 'gift'.

"Umno's Aidil Fitri gift to the people of Kelantan: Firing Ibrahim Ali, who has been steadfast in his work," said the banners.