Umno leaders today said a snap election may be held next year and vowed to remain loyal to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad who is also the party president.

"We need Prime Minister Mahathir to lead us. We pray to God that he be blessed with good health and strength," Tajol Rosli Ghazali, a supreme council member told AFP.

"We are ready for the election. We hope party polls for 2003 will be postponed to allow us to concentrate on the general election,"he added when met at the Umno annual general assembly in Kuala Lumpur.

Mahathir, who has led Malaysia for the past 21 years, opened the three-day assembly on Thursday at the Putra World Trade Centre.

Asked when Mahathir would step down, Tajol said: "Umno still needs him."

General elections are not due until late 2004 but there is growing speculation of early polls after the government boosted its majorities in two recent by-elections.

Support improved

Tajol, who is Perak Mentsri Besar, said Umno which champions Malay rights, had over the past two years managed to recoup lost support from rural Malays.

"Malay support for Mahathir has improved. Mahathir's standing in the party is strong," he said.

Tajol said the issue of jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim was no longer a sore point among Malays who chose to vote for the opposition in the 1999 election.

Anwar was sacked by Mahathir as deputy premier on Sept 2, 1998 on grounds of immorality and detained 18 days later after leading mass anti-government protests.

He is now serving 15 years in jail after being convicted for abuse of powers and sodomy.

Annuar Musa, a supreme council member said there was growing perception that elections would be held in 2003.

"Our economy has improved, the opposition is divided and Umno is strong — reflected by recent by-election victories," he told AFP.

Annuar said Umno has to make sure PAS is routed out of Kelantan and Terengganu.

Stunning victory

The deputy head of Umno Kelantan threw his support for Mahathir and his anointed successor deputy premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"Under their leadership, I am sure we can achieve a stunning victory," he said.

The delegates debate Saturday was "dull", said Annuar but many paid tribute to party leadership while others criticised PAS for moving ahead to impose strict Islamic criminal law in Terengganu.

One delegate from Penang thanked Umno for addressing the plight of Muslims in the country. "I come from a poor family. My mother was a single parent. I thank the government for giving me food and money to pursue my education," he said.

Wan Ahmad Farid, a delegate from Kuala Terengganu urged the government to correct the abuse of Islam by PAS leaders.

"We must ensure PAS abides by the rule of law. The government must stop PAS from abusing Islam." he said.