2015 Chempaka by-election

A by-election was held for the Kelantan State Assembly seat of Chempaka on 22 March 2015 following the nomination day on 10 March 2015.[1] The seat fell vacant after the death of the incumbent five-term assemblyman and former Menteri Besar of Kelantan, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat from prostate cancer in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan on 12 February 2015.[2] Niz Aziz was a member of PAS, part of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition. Nik Abdul Aziz had retained the seat in the 13th General Election in 2013 by beating Wan Razman Wan Abd Razak of the Barisan Nasional with a majority of 6,500 votes.[3]

The Chempaka by-election saw a five-way battle between PAS's Ahmad Fathan Mahmood and independent candidates Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary, Fadzillah Hussin, Aslah Mamat and Sharif Mahmood.[4] Sharif Mahmood is the vice-president of Malay rights group Perkasa[5] and also a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). He and Fadzillah Hussin were sacked by UMNO for contesting in the Chempaka by-election. UMNO had resolved not to contest the election, ostensibly to focus on flood relief efforts in Kelantan.[6][7]

Results

PAS candidate Ahmad Fathan Mahmood won the election with a landslide garnering 96.4% of the votes.[8][9][10] All four independent candidates lost their election deposits for failing to garner 10% of the votes.

Kelantan state by-election, 22 March 2015: Chempaka
The by-election was called due to the death of incumbent, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	∆%
	PAS	Ahmad Fathan Mahmood	10,899	91.80
	Independent	Sharif Mahmood	807	6.80
	Independent	Fadzillah Hussin	89	0.75
	Independent	Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary	51	0.43
	Independent	Aslah Mamat	27	0.23
Total valid votes			11,873	100.00
Total rejected ballots			140
Unreturned ballots			7
Turnout			12,020	54.91
Registered electors			21,890
Majority			10,092
	PAS hold		Swing
Source(s) "Pilihan Raya Kecil N.06 Chempaka". Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 2018-09-19. "Federal Government Gazette - Notice of Contested Election - By-election of the State Legislative Assembly of N.06 Chempaka for the State of Kelantan [P.U. (B) 88/2015]" (PDF). Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia. 10 March 2015. Retrieved 2018-09-19. "Federal Government Gazette - Results of Contested Election and Statement of the Poll after the Official Addition of Votes for the By-election of N.06 Chempaka [P.U. (B) 150/2015]" (PDF). Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2018-09-19.

References

1. "Chempaka by-election: Nomination day". The Star (Malaysia). 10 March 2015.
2. "Nik Aziz, 84, dies". The Star (Malaysia). 12 February 2015.
3. http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2015/03/12/pas-will-only-kick-off-campaign-on-friday-to-save-costs/
4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-04-01. Retrieved 2015-03-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
5. http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2015/03/05/kelantan-perkasa-v-p-to-contest-chempaka-by-election-as-independent/
6. http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2015/03/13/sacking-2-members-for-contesting-in-by-election-will-not-smear-umnos-image/
7. http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/03/14/Sacked-duo-carry-on-in-byelection-Former-Umno-members-soldier-on-to-champion-the-cause-of-Malays-and/
8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-03-23. Retrieved 2015-03-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
10. http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/ec-pas-retains-chempaka-state-seat-with-10092-vote-majority