Speculation has intensified that Kedah Menteri Besar Syed Razak Syed Zain may opt for a parliamentary seat instead of defending his Kubang Rotan state seat as Umno appears keen on fielding new faces for this general election.

According to party sources, a majority of Kedah Umno members want younger candidates to contest the state seats to boost its chances of retaining control of the government.

Come polling day on March 21, Kedah will be the state most closely watched as the opposition, namely PAS, made an impressive impact in the 1999 election.

Leaders from the Muslim-based opposition party - which already controls Kelantan and Terengganu - have expressed confidence of capturing Kedah and Perlis this time around.

Of the 36 state seats in Kedah, PAS won 12 and Umno 16. The rest are held by Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties MCA (4), Gerakan (2) and MIC (1). Keadilan has one seat as well.

PAS also controls eight parliamentary seats in the northern state, while Umno has five and MCA two.

Syed Razak is among several state leaders said to be moving to parliamentary seats for this polls. The rest are Melaka Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam, Perak MB Tajol Rosli Ghazali, Perlis MB Shahidan Kassim and Johor MB Abdul Ghani Othman.

New faces

Elaborating on Kedah, sources said Umno was expected to field a sizeable number of new faces in the 28 state and 13 parliamentary seats to be contested by the party.

Spearheading the list are Umno Youth deputy chief Abdul Aziz Sheikh Fadzir ( left ), the wing's information chief Azimi Daim and former Deputy Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin ( right ).

Aziz, who is also Kedah Umno Youth chief is almost certain to contest in a parliamentary seat while Azimi may be given either one.

On the other hand, Zainuddin - who is also media advisor to the Ministry of Information - is expected to contest in Merbok as incumbent former finance minister Daim Zainuddin is not seeking re-election.

However, the former journalist may be placed elsewhere should the party choose Merbok divisional pro tem chairperson Senator Arzmi Abdul Hamid to contest there.

Sources said there would at least be 10 new faces in the battle for parliamentary seats in Kedah. This includes former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's seat Kubang Pasu, Merbok, Jerlun, Kuala Kedah, Pokok Sena, Padang Terap, Yan, Pendang, Baling dan Sik.

Only 30 percent of the incumbents are expected to remain. These are Education Ministry parliamentary secretary Mahadzir Mohd Khir (Sungai Petani), Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir (Kulim Bandar Baharu), Agriculture Ministry parliamentary secretary Abu Bakar Taib (Langkawi), Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Heung (Alor Star) and Kedah MCA Wanita chief Lim Bee Kau (Padang Serai).

Other new faces may include Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail - the managing director of a state-owned company - who is expected to contest the Jerai parliamentary seat (formerly Yan) and. Umno Jerlun Wanita chief Maznah Abd Hamid, who may be given the Jerlun parliamentary seat.

Also on the list of possible candidates are state Umno executive secretary Ariffin Man, state BN executive secretary Mohamed Yaakob and the prime minister's political secretary Mahadzir Khalid.