Former journalist Subky Latif from PAS has been given the titanic task of dislodging caretaker Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad from his Kubang Pasu parliamentary seat in Kedah.

Expressing surprise at the nomination, Subky, PAS's federal territory commissioner, said the mood of the people in the country is riding high and is ripe for change. "If the election is clean and the voter turnout is good, believe it will be a close contest. No one can remain in power forever and it is not impossible for him to be defeated."

When asked on the short campaign period, Subky said that PAS had done a lot of ground work in Kubang Pasu in the last three years. "I believe the Malays are ready for change and if the Chinese and Indians are prepared for change, we can achieve victory and overcome the communal politics that have long plagued the country."

Subky may be hoping that history would repeat itself: in 1969, former PAS president Yusof Rawa defeated Mahathir in the Kota Star seat.

Subky, a journalist with Utusan Melayu from 1963 to 1975, joined PAS in 1978 and has contested under the party's banner for parliamentary seats in Port Klang, Kemaman, Parit Buntar, Jerai and Parit in the past five elections as well as for the state seat of Semanggol in 1986.

According to Sukby, he joined PAS with the intention of "upholding democracy, working towards a 'cleaner' political culture, and to ensure the survival of the Opposition in Malaysia".