# 1977 Kelantan Emergency

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Prehistoric period Paleolithic  Lenggong Valley c. 2,000,0000 BCE  Mansuli Valley235,000 BCE Mesolithic  Niah cultures 65,000–40,000 BCE Neolithic  Bewah man/woman 16,000 BCE  Perak man/woman 11,000–200 BCE  Neolithic Klang 500 – 200 BCE :
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Independence period Malayan Independence 1957 Singapore self-governance 1959 ISA 1960 1960–2012 Sarawak Insurgency 1962–1990 North Borneo self-governance 1963 Konfrontasi 1963–1966 Sarawak self-governance 1963 Formation of Malaysia 1963 Singapore in Malaysia 1963–1965 ASEAN Declaration 1967 Second communist insurgency 1968–1989 :
Modern period 13 May incident 1969 National Operations Council 1969–1971 Declaration of Rukun Negara 1970 New Economic Policy 1971–1990 Federal Territory of KL 1974 1977 Kelantan Emergency 1977 Pedra Branca dispute 1979–2008 South China Sea dispute (Spratly) 1980–present Dawn Raid 1981 Federal Territory of Labuan 1984 Memali incident 1985 Operation Lalang 1987 Constitutional crisis 1987–1988 Peace Agreement of Hat Yai 1989 Royal Immunity Amendments 1993 Asian financial crisis 1997–1998 Reformasi Movement 1998–2022 2008 Malaysian Opposition Wave 2008 H1N1 flu pandemic 2009–2010 Sedition Dragnet 2014 1MDB scandal 2015–present Pakatan Harapan takeover 2018 COVID-19 pandemic 2020–2022 Political crisis 2020–2022 Bornean Amendment 2021–2023 Green Wave 2022–present :
Incidents Brunei revolt 1962–1966 North Borneo dispute (Philippine militant attacks) 1962–present Singapore race riots 1964 Brunei's Limbang claim 1967–2009 Penang Hartal riot 1967 13 May Incident 1969 Ligitan and Sipadan dispute 1969–2002 Kuala Lumpur flash floods 1971 Malaysian haze crisis 1972–present AIA building hostage crisis 1975 National Monument bombing 1975 Campbell Shopping Complex fire 1976 Sabah Air GAF Nomad crash 1976 Japan Airlines Flight 715 incident 1977 MH653 incident 1977 1985 Lahad Datu ambush 1985 Memali Incident 1985 Sabah Emergency 1986 Ming Court Affair 1987 Penang terminal bridge collapse 1988 Taufiqiah Al-Khairiah madrasa fire 1989 Bright Sparklers disaster 1991 Highland Towers collapse 1993 Genting landslide 1995 MH2133 incident 1995 Pos Dipang mudflow 1996 Tropical Storm Greg 1996 1998–1999 Malaysia Nipah virus outbreak 1998–1999 2000 Sipadan kidnappings 2000 Al-Ma'unah incident 2000 Sauk Siege 2000 2001 Kampung Medan riots 2001 2002 Taman Hillview landslide 2002 Indian Ocean tsunami 2004 2006–2007 Southeast Asian floods 2006–2007 Bukit Gantang bus crash 2007 Bukit Antarabangsa landslide 2008 H1N1 flu pandemic 2009 Attacks against places of worship 2010 Cameron Highlands bus crash 2010 Hulu Langat landslide 2011 Genting Highlands bus crash 2013 MH370 incident 2014 MH17 incident 2014 2014–15 Malaysia floods 2014–2015 Sabah earthquake 2015 2015 Plaza Low Yat riot2015 Movida Bar grenade attack 2016 Kim Jong-nam's Assassination 2017 Darul Quran madrasa fire2017 2018 Subang Temple riot 2018 2020-21 Malaysia floods 2021 LRT train collision 2021 2021-22 Malaysia floods 2021–2022 2022 Batang Kali landslide 2022 2023 Elmina plane crash 2023 2024 Lumut helicopters crash 2024 2024 Ulu Tiram police station attack 2024 :
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The 1977 Kelantan Emergency took place in the state of Kelantan in Malaysia. The state of emergency was declared by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Yahya Petra, who was also the Sultan of Kelantan at the time, on 8 November 1977, upon the request of the federal government following a political impasse and street violence in Kelantan. This was the fifth declaration of emergency in Malaya and Malaysia after the 1948–1960 Malayan Emergency, the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation, the 1966 Sarawak constitutional crisis, and the 13 May Incident.

## Prelude to the declaration of emergency

The Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of Kelantan in 1977 was Mohamed Nasir of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS). Since 1972, PAS had been part of the Alliance Party and, subsequently, Barisan Nasional (BN) (after 1974), the federal government-ruling coalition party. In 1977, Mohamed Nasir faced dissatisfaction within PAS and was accused of defying party instructions. A no-confidence motion was tabled in the state assembly, with 20 PAS assemblymen supporting the motion, while the other BN's 13 United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and one Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) assemblyman walked out in protest. Mohamed Nasir refused to resign. He then requested the Regent of Kelantan (as head of state) to dissolve the state assembly to pave the way for an election, but the request was refused. Consequently, Mohamed Nasir's supporters organised a protest in the streets of Kota Bharu, which escalated into mass violence and looting.

## Declaration of emergency and aftermath

On 8 November 1977, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who was also the Sultan of Kelantan at the time, declared a state of emergency in the state of Kelantan. The Emergency Powers (Kelantan) Act 1977 was passed by Parliament the following day, granting the federal government implied power to govern the state. Although being part of the Barisan Nasional coalition, 12 out of 14 PAS members of Parliament opposed the passing of the Act. Consequently, PAS was expelled from the BN coalition.
During the emergency, Mohamed Nasir retained the post of Menteri Besar but with limited powers, as ultimate executive authority was vested in the Director of the Federal Administration for Kelantan, appointed by the Prime Minister under the Emergency Powers (Kelantan) Act 1977. A senior civil servant, Hashim Aman (who was later appointed as Chief Secretary to the Government in 1982 and retired in 1984), was appointed to the position during the emergency period.
The Emergency were lifted in a proclamation by Yang Di-Pertuan Agong on 12 February 1978.
In March 1978, an election was held in Kelantan, months ahead of the national election. The election was contested by PAS, UMNO, and the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Front (BERJASA), a new party formed by Mohamed Nasir. UMNO won the election, securing 23 seats, while BERJASA won 11 and PAS won two seats, paving the way for UMNO to form the government in Kelantan for the first time.
After the election, BERJASA joined Barisan Nasional, and Mohamed Nasir became a Senator and Minister without Portfolio in the federal government, while Mohamed Yaacob of UMNO became the new Menteri Besar of Kelantan. Mohamed Yaacob retained the post until his defeat in 1990, when PAS regained control of Kelantan.