Hardline Islamic opposition party PAS hopes to recover from its crushing defeat in March general elections with victory in a by-election this weekend.

Officials said winning control of Kuala Berang constituency in northeastern state Terengganu would boost morale among the 800,000 members of the party, whose three-day annual assembly opens on Friday.

"By-elections are always important but it is all the more important this time round as we have lost power in Terengganu. A sign of change in voters' preference will be a positive sign for us and will give hope for PAS," PAS central committee member Hatta Ramli told AFP .

"We expect to win it back, we are prepared to fight it out."

PAS first came to prominence in 1999 general elections but its fortunes reversed sharply this year as it lost power in Terengganu and was thumped in the March 21 vote for the federal parliament by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's Barisan Nasional.

The party, which aims to turn Malaysian into a theocratic state, only managed to retain control in its northern stronghold Kelantan state with the slimmest of majorities after a recount. Many PAS leaders, including president Abdul Hadi Awang, lost their parliamentary seats.

Promised too much

The state by-election was called after the death on July 30 of Komaruddin Abdul Rahman from Umno, the linchpin of the ruling coalition.

BN is fielding retired teacher Mohamed Zawawi Ismail against PAS former member of parliament Muhyiddin Abdul Rashid.

PAS secretary-general Nasharuddin Mat Isa said he believed PAS has a strong chance of winning because the ruling coalition has not fulfilled its election pledges in Terengganu.

"They promised too much, like a new airport in Kuala Berang. The voters are realising that this is too much and a little beyond reach," he said.

But other analysts said it would be a tough battle for PAS on Saturday.

"I think the status quo will remain. Umno is still in momentum and the people will vote for them again as it's too soon after the elections to judge whether Umno will deliver or not," said Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's political scientist Mohammad Agus Yusoff.