After being overrun by PAS in the previous general election, Kelatan Umno is slowly taking shape once again after 'new players' were brought in to rattle the liaison committee.

The changes came into effect in January and this was the prescribed formula to put an end to the internal bickering and accommodate younger leaders into its inner circle..

"Kelantan Umno is getting more organised and stable. State party chief Mustapha Mohamad is more comfortable now to plan and execute strategies to recapture more seats in the next elections," said a party source today.

In the 1999 general election, Barisan Nasional only won two - Paloh (Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Hassan) and Galas (Mohamad Saufi Deraman) - of the 43 state seats in Kelantan.

Impressive leader

Among the more notable 'new players' is economist and ex-Bank Negara assistant governor Dr Awang Gadek Hussin, who replaced Dr Nik Hussin Abdul Rahman as Kelantan Umno treasurer.

Observers said Awang had not only delivered an impressive speech at the recent Umno general assembly but also displayed his political acumen by explaining the problems faced in Kelantan in a simple and straightforward manner.

One Umno leader described him as a '4 in 1' package - meaning that he is an individual with four pertinent qualities, namely political knowledge, oratory skill, credibility and respect from the grassroots in the state.

His presence in Kelantan is already causing uneasiness among PAS supporters, who recently accused him of using his position as Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) chairperson for his political campaign by distributing TNB calendars bearing his photograph to the people.

Political asset

"Politically, he is an asset to Kelantan Umno and Mustapha in particular. He possesses the ability to communicate in a simple way which the grassroots are comfortable with," said a local party leader, who declined to be named.

The leader added that others should not perceive him as a threat but as a boost to Umno in order for it to mount a formidable challenge in the coming polls.

While in Bank Negara as an assistant governor , Awang also served as the chairperson of Labuan International Financial Exchange (LFX) under the Labuan Offshore Securities Industry Act - LOSIA and became a member of the Labuan Development Authority (1997-1999) and the Danaharta Supervisory Committee (1999-2001).

Meanwhile, other 'new players' to watch out for are deputy chairperson and lawyer Zaid Ibrahim, secretary Mat Nawawi Mat Jusoh and information chief Alwi Che Ahmad.

Zaid replaced Annuar Musa while Mat Nawawi and Alwi replaced Tuan Mohamad Hashim Tuan Yaakub and Ismail Mamat respectively.

However, political observers said that it is too early to determine whether the new Umno team has enough support to dislodge PAS in Kelantan - the Muslim-based opposition party's stronghold since the 1999 general election.

They however agreed that with the removal of party leaders who lack credibility in the eyes of the Kelantanese would increase Umno chances in recapturing some seats in the next polls.