KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took a swipe at Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang for stating that he wanted to contest in Kepala Batas, saying that the PAS president has no confidence in recapturing Terengganu.

The Prime Minister said Abdul Hadi's statement that he was willing to stand in his (Abdullah's) parliamentary seat showed that he knew he could not win in his own state.

"He said he wants to contest in Terengganu, then after that, he wants to go somewhere else. This means he knows he cannot win and is looking at other constituencies", he said after chairing the Barisan and Umno supreme council meetings yesterday.

In Setiu, Terengganu Barisan chief Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said Abdul Hadi knew that his support had diminished in his Rhu Rendang constituency and was now 'trying his luck' elsewhere.

On Wednesday, Abdul Hadi said he was prepared to face the Prime Minister in his Kepala Batas parliamentary constituency.

"(Abdul) Hadi is afraid of losing here and he is quickly looking for another constituency.

"However, he is free to contest anywhere. PAS had lost its confidence in Terengganu", Idris said after launching the Gelombang Biru 66 election campaign at Batu Rakit, Setiu, yesterday.

"Tok Guru (Abdul Hadi) is feeling the pressure. PAS is wobbly here and there are no issues in Terengganu for the opposition to capitalise on", he said.

Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Abdul Hadi was clearly afraid that Terengganu would not support the opposition party.

"To me (Datuk) Hadi knows he will lose and that is why he said he does not mind contesting in Kepala Batas to challenge the Prime Minister", he told reporters after launching a ground-breaking ceremony for a multi-million-ringgit agricultural centre in Pagoh yesterday.

Meanwhile, Umno Youth chief Datuk Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the youth in Kelantan wanted a change after being ruled by PAS for 18 years.

"The good candidates being put forward in Kelantan will make a difference. I believe this is a right time for us to really try and impress the people in Kelantan that the future is not with PAS", he said.