Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi pushed a campaign to dislodge Islamic party PAS from Terengganu in weekend elections, promising economic development if the government wins.

Abdullah visited Besut village to bring the fight directly to the territory of the opposition Muslim-based party three days before Sunday's polls, and is due Friday to barnstorm Terengganu and neighbouring Kelantan.

"If we win, we wll bring massive development programs and changes never seen before in this state but we need to secure every vote," he told some 2,000 supporters.

"We need a strong mandate from the people. We must work hard to get them to come and vote. There may be people spreading rumours of trouble on polling day but have confidence that the police will be there to ensure security."

Oil-rich Terengganu is Malaysia's third poorest state, and Abdullah said he did not want the population to live in poor conditions.

"We must teach them the true Islam which emphasises on development and acquiring knowledge. We want Muslims in Malaysia to live in peace, not weak or remain poor," he said.

"God willing, we will win."

'Wind of change'

Abdullah told reporters later that he felt a "wind of change" in Terengganu with growing support for his Barisan Nasional coalition.

"We face some difficulties earlier but our election machinery is effective now. We are doing well, public response has been good. If they give us the mandate, I will not let them down. What others promised is just a political game but we are serious."

PAS, which aims to turn multi-racial Malaysia into a theocratic state, has ruled Kelantan since 1990 and wrested control of Terengganu in 1999 polls, giving it power over two of Malaysia's 13 states.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, who is also Terengganu chief minister, separately told some 500 supporters at a rally that Abdullah's visit to the two states reflected weak leadership on the ground.

"It shows the state leaders are weak. The Barisan Nasional at the state level is weak and it needs federal assistance to boost itself," he said.

"God willing, we can defend Kelantan and Terengganu. The feeling is that we will win these two states."

'50-50 chance'

PAS's sweep to prominence in 1999 was mainly due to Malay anger after then-premier Mahathir Mohamad sacked his charismatic deputy Anwar Ibrahim in 1998. Anwar was subsequently jailed for 15 years for corruption and sodomy.

Mahathir, in an interview with AFP on Thursday, said it would be "very difficult" to win back Kelantan but predicted a "50-50 chance" of taking back Terengganu.

"In Kelantan, I am afraid it is due to the weakness within Umno itself. The infighting has always been a factor in our defeat. But in Terengannu, there is a kind of reawakening," he said.

"I think a lot of people in Terengganu are very unhappy with the way the state is being run."