Umno is losing its grip on Kedah and concerned party members claim that a new team should take the helm to ensure victory at the next general election.

"You would be surprised how many Umno members would agree to this," said a party source when contacted today.

The source, who declined to be named, said opposition party PAS is getting stronger in the home state of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad while Umno is losing ground.

"Our main problem in Kedah is that PAS has, or at least is seen to have, many charismatic leaders who can argue well on most of the issues, including that of the Sekolah Agama Rakyat (SAR)," he said.

SAR or public religious schools became a heated issue when the government withdrew its funding on the ground that the opposition party was using these schools to indoctrinate students.

The blame

Meanwhile, the source said when Barisan Nasional performed poorly in the state during the last polls, the blame fell on then Menteri Besar Sanusi Junid who was forced to relinquish his post.

The source warned that if the ruling coalition failed to make an impact this time around then the current Menteri Besar Syed Razak Syed Zin would have to bear the brunt of it.

In the last elections, BN lost eight parliamentary and12 state seats in the state, all of which were won by PAS. Kedah has15 parliamentary and 36 state seats

However, PAS lost its Pendang parliamentary seat in a by-election called after the death of its president Fadzil Noor last year. In 2000, BN lost another state seat in a by-election to Keadilan.

According to the source, the problem lies with the state leaders - and not the menteri besars - who fail to reach a common understanding and formulate effective strategies.

"For instance, when their candidate was not selected to contest in the Anak Bukit by-election last year, they went around sabotaging Umno and BN. That is not the secret anymore," he said.

Morale booster

He stressed that Umno leaders in the state need a morale booster in terms of having a new team to spearhead the assault for the upcoming polls.

In view of this, the recent appointment of Umno Youth deputy chief Aziz Sheikh Fadzir as the new Kedah Youth chief was seen by many as a move that would eventually see him become menteri besar.

However, Umno Youth information chief and party supreme council member Azimi Daim could stand in his way.

Therefore, it came as no surprise when a motion for a no-confidence vote was brought against Azimi by the Kulim-Bandar Baru Youth wing which he heads, since the division chief was Aziz' elder brother Abdul Kadir.

"His subsequent suspension as the division Youth chief reflects the existing fear among those who are eyeing for the post," said another party source.

Azimi is considered as the most qualified candidate for the Kedah Umno Youth chief post compared to the others including Aziz.

It is said that the idea to appoint a young leader to the post was prompted by the success of the 38-year-old Selangor Menteri Besar, Dr Mohd Khir Toyo in curbing the opposition's advance in his state.

This is also in line with premier-in-waiting Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's pledge to appoint more younger leaders in his government and the party when he takes over in October.