Despite the Anwar Ibrahim issue having faded, people continue to support PAS and the party is confident of taking Kedah in the next general election, said its acting president Abdul Hadi Awang today.

"God willing, we should be able to take Kedah as there are other issues which can draw the people's support for PAS. In politics there is nothing impossible.

"Barisan (Nasional) can claim that they are strong, but we feel we are strong too. Just wait and see what will happen in the coming (general) election," he was quoted as saying in a Bernama report.

Abdul Hadi, who is also Terengganu menteri besar, was responding to Kedah Menteri Besar Syed Razak Syed Zain claim that PAS' chances in the state were slim.

In the 1999 general election - Anwar' sacking as deputy premier and his subsequent jailing - was said to have influenced the outcome.

The Malay electorate split and this saw opposition parties, namely PAS performing well. The party not only retained its power-base Kelantan but also captured neighbouring Terengganu.

In Kedah, PAS won 12 out of the 36 state seats and eight of the 15 parliamentary constituencies.

However, the ruling front regained the Pendang parliamentary seat in a by-election called after the death of incumbent and former PAS president Fadzil Noor last year.

Party objective

Meanwhile, Abdul Hadi said PAS' objective was not only to win in Kedah, Terengganu or Kelantan but in all states in the Peninsular.

"We are confident that as long as there is democracy in Malaysia and we use the correct channels against the BN, God willing we will have a chance," he said.

On Tuesday, malaysiakini quoted Kedah PAS chief Azizan Abdul Razak as saying that the party was confident of winning an additional six seats in the home state of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said BN was relying on the changes to election boundaries to garner votes but stressed that this will not save the ruling front.

There is also speculation that several PAS heavyweights would be shifting bases in the state and this includes secretary-general Nasharuddin Mat Isa and Youth chief Mahfuz Omar.

Umno leaders in the state also told malaysiakini that it was difficult to make inroads into areas controlled by the opposition party.