Terengganu Menteri Besar Idris Jusoh has set a 10-year target to rid the state of PAS influence, a task which he says would not be too difficult to achieve.

Idris, who is also state Barisan Nasional (BN) chairperson, said the number of votes garnered by the ruling front in the March 21 polls proves that it is an feasible aim.

It would be made easy when all party machineries are deployed all the time, he said at a gathering of more than 300 Umno and BN ceramah speakers in Kuala Terengganu last night.

They formed part of BN's communication task force which helped the party to rout the PAS government and return to power in the state.

"We must make an effort to increase the number of popular votes for the BN at a rate of more than five percent per annum, and within the next 10 years, I believe PAS will no longer be able to establish a stronghold in the state.

"I know it's difficult, but I don't see many obstacles in our endeavour to meet that objective," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

Improving administration

In his speech, he thanked all BN speakers who had played their roles effectively in the election.

He also said in the first 100 days after BN's victory in Terengganu, he had been focussing on improving the state government's administration, previously held by PAS for just one term.

"That is why I've not been giving much attention towards the party at that time, but I can still be proud as our colleagues have been giving me the help and support," he said.

Idris said his responsibility as menteri besar was tough initially, especially in rectifying the administrative culture of the previous government.

But now, he added, improvement could be seen among state government's staff.

"So after this, I'll have more time and will give more attention towards the effort in strengthening the party," he said.

In the recently concluded election, BN won 27 of the 32 state seats. It also won all the eight parliamentary seats up for grabs in Terengganu.

In 1999, PAS won 28 of the 32 state seats while taking seven parliamentary seats, a victory which many attributed to the country's turbulent political climate then following the sacking and jailing of ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.

Contacted later, PAS vice-president Mustafa Ali declined to comment, saying that he has not read the report yet.

Party secretary-general Nasharuddin Mat Isa could not be reached for comment.