Mahathir supporters quit opposition state

Mahathir supporters quit opposition state

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's party members said yesterday they had left their political posts in opposition-ruled Kelantan after failing to make headway in the northeastern Malaysian state.

Political analysts, however, interpreted the move as a ploy by Mahathir's United Malays National Organization (UMNO) to seize control of the state, run by the Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS).

"The opportunity given to PAS to govern Kelantan for more than 25 years is enough to show the people how weak the PAS leadership is," Rozali Isohak, spokesman for the three politicians who resigned, told Bernama news agency.

The trio were part of the opposition Spirit of 46 party, which used to jointly rule Kelantan with PAS until defecting to Mahathir's UMNO this year.