Chempaka by-election: PAS' Ahmad Fathan takes seat with landslide victory

PAS' Ahmad Fathan (right) celebrates his victory. - Bernama

PENGKALAN CHEPA: PAS candidate Ahmad Fathan Mahmood has won the Chempaka state seat by-election with a landslide victory Sunday.

Ahmad Fathan received an overwhelming 10,092 votes, or 86.2% of total votes cast.

Independent candidates Sharif Mahmood had 807 votes, Fadhillah Hussin with 89 votes, Aslah Mamat with 27 votes, and Izat Bukhari with 51 votes.

All four independent candidates lost their deposits.

Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof earlier said there was a 55% voter turnout, with 11,971 votes cast, including postal and early voters. There are 21,890 registered voters in the constituency.

Polling took place between 8am and 5pm Sunday at nine polling centres to enable 20,390 ordinary voters to cast their ballots.

The by-election was necessitated by the death of its assemblyman, PAS spiritual leader and former Kelantan mentri besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, 84, on March 12.

Barisan Nasional did not contest the by-election, choosing to focus instead on rehabilitation work after Kelantan was hit by extraordinary floods in December last year.