The party election in September is expected to create major changes in the PAS leadership and could witness the elevation of several younger leaders.

A party source said there is a possibility that a "charismatic" young leader would be elected as deputy president with several others into the central committee.

This would be seen as a major step by the party to assemble a strong leadership to mount a formidable challenge in the next general election.

The source added that the Muslim-based opposition party has a number of outstanding young leaders serving it in various capacities.

Among them are secretary-general Nasharuddin Mat Isa, Youth chief Mahfuz Omar, his deputy Salahuddin Ayub, central committee members Husam Musa and Dr Hatta Ramli and Youth vice chief Idris Ahmad.

Crucial meet

Meanwhile, the source said the upcoming party general assembly or muktamar will be crucial because the impending general election. Although it is o­nly due in November next year, many believe it will be held much earlier.

"It would also reflect the party's desire to provide wider opportunities to young leaders to hold important posts," he added.

The delegates are also expected to endorse the appointment of Terengganu Menteri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang as party president.

The present PAS vice-presidents are Mustafa Ali (Terengganu state exco), MP for Parit Buntar Hassan Ali, and senator Hassan Shukri.

According to the source, the muktamar would also have to formulate strategies to retain control of Kelantan and Terengganu as well as concoct a winning formula to wrest Kedah away from the ruling coalition.

In the 1999 general election, PAS won 12 state seats and eight parliamentary seats in Kedah but lost the Pendang parliamentary seat in a by-election last June. The seat was held by its late president Fadzil Noor.

Difficult task

"It is a no small task for them in view of changes in the election boundaries to be gazetted before the coming general election which cuts into most of PAS strongholds.

"Besides, PAS will also face the coming election, not o­nly as an opposition party but also be accountable for the performance of the PAS-led government in Kelantan and Terengganu.

"This means the party can't criticise the Barisan Nasional government freely and they should also expect criticism about their performance in both states," he said.

However, the source added, since the last general election, PAS has emerged as a mainstream party whose performance can directly affect the local political landscape.

"With this newly found strength, PAS could pull another surprise not o­nly in Kedah but also in Selangor and Pahang," he said.

The source pointed out that by fully exploiting local issues, PAS had successfully swung support from the ruling front in the two previous general election.

"While the issue of Sekolah Agama Rakyat (public religious schools) remains unsolved, the issuance of a gaming licence to a highland resort in Pahang has been exploited by PAS to gain more support in the state," he said.