Umno will first have to answer how its previous 40-year rule of Terengganu impoverished the people before it can wrest the state back from PAS, an opposition member of parliament said today.

PAS MP for Kuala Terengganu Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad said despite Umno controlling the states oil royalty amounting to RM7 billion for 22 years, Terengganu is still the second poorest state in the country.

The people have not forgotten this. Umno has betrayed them for 40 years, Azman told malaysiakini . Reverse psychology wont work. Perhaps, Umno wants to buy the people with money, he added.

Syed Azman was commenting on a recent Umno convention held in Terengganu where strategies and policies were drafted on how to win back the state from PAS in the coming general elections.

The convention was attended by about 400 people comprising professionals, non-governmental organisation leaders, academics and pensioners from the civil service.

Oil royalty payments

The 10 workshops held during the two-day convention also discussed ways to improve the image of Umno leaders in the eyes of the public. The issue of party unity was also reported to have been discussed.

PAS came to power in Terengganu after the 1999 general elections, defeating Umno which has ruled the east coast state since the 1960s.

Immediately after the general elections, the federal government withdrew its oil royalty payments to the state government. PAS has taken the federal government to court over the matter.