In one of most honest appraisals of the party's defeat in the 2004 general election, PAS leader Abdul Hadi Awang said that the Islam-based party had been lured into complacency after its dramatic gains five years ago.

He said that after PAS was voted to power in the state of Terengganu in 1999, party's leaders and members believed they had the support of the people.

"This, among others, had given us a false sense of security, believing that everyone who came to us was joining our party. But the election results showed we were wrong," he was quoted as saying today by Bernama.

Abdul Hadi said this in his keynote address at the 9th Terengganu PAS leadership discourse today at Kampung Batu 24, near Kuala Berang in Terengganu.

In the 1999 general election, PAS was swept to power in Terengganu, winning 28 out of the 32 seats in the state legislative assembly.

However, the Barisan Nasional coalition wrested back the state in the recent March 21 general election by turning the table on PAS - bagging 28 out of the 32 state seats.

Rematch

The party has decided to hold the conference in Kuala Berang - initially to be held in Marang - to coincide with the Aug 28 by-election there.

The Kuala Berang seat fell vacant following the death of Umno assemblyman Komaruddin Abdul Rahman, 46, on July 30.

He defeated PAS candidate Dr Mamad Puteh by a majority of 1,695 votes in the March polls.

PAS is expected to name its candidate later today in the rematch with Umno.

Nomination has been fixed for next Monday.