Kelantan Umno is in a better position to capture more state and parliamentary seats from PAS in the coming general election, a senior state Umno leader said today.

Pasir Putih Umno division chief Kamaruddin Mohd Nor however added that the party may not be able to recapture the state which has been under PAS rule since 1990.

"I am quite optimistic that this time round Umno would fare better in the coming general election. However, it is too early to speculate beyond that," he told malaysiakini .

"My confidence is based partly on the enthusiasm shown by party leaders during the Kelantan Barisan Nasional convention held in Machang recently," he said.

According to the Umno leader, all the delegates had participated actively throughout the whole session.

Encouraging development

"This is a very encouraging development, unlike in the previous (conventions), when most of (the delegates) left shortly after the opening ceremony," he added.

The Dec 20 convention officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, was attended by more than 4,000 state party leaders from all levels to discuss the strategy to face PAS in the coming general election.

"On the whole, I would say that we are getting more support from the masses. To me, this is a good sign for Umno to eventually wrest Kelantan from PAS in the future," said Kamaruddin.

He also attributed the latest development to efforts by state Umno chairperson, Mustapha Mohamad, in solving various problems within the state leadership.

Out of the 43 state seats, only two Galas and Paloh were won by Umno in the last election. It gained only one parliamentary state seat Gua Musang out of the 14 contested.