# 2023 Kedah state election

The 15th Kedah state election was held on 12 August 2023 to elect the State Assembly members of the 15th Kedah State Legislative Assembly, the legislature of the Malaysian state of Kedah.
Kedah is one of the states which did not dissolve simultaneously with Dewan Rakyat on 10 October 2022. It was decided by Perikatan Nasional on 13 October 2022.
The governing Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition led by Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) won 33 of 36 seats in a landslide, achieving a supermajority in the legislature. The Barisan Nasional (BN) – Pakatan Harapan (PH) electoral pact won the remaining 3 seats, with PH capturing all 3 seats. For the first time in the state's history, BN did not have any representation in the state assembly, allowing PH to take BN's place as the state's main opposition.

## Constituencies

All 36 constituencies within Kedah, which constitute the Kedah State Legislative Assembly, were contested during the election.

## Composition before dissolution

| Government | Government | Opposition | Opposition | Opposition | Opposition | Opposition |
| PN | PN | PH | PH | PH | PEJUANG | BN |
| 21 | 21 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 2 |
| 15 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| PAS | BERSATU | PKR | AMANAH | DAP | PEJUANG | UMNO |

## Timeline

The key dates are listed below.
| Date | Event |
| 13 October 2022 | Perikatan Nasional decides not to dissolve the 14th Kedah State Legislative Assembly. |
| 28 June 2023 | Dissolution of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly. |
| 5 July 2023 | Issue of the Writ of Election |
| 29 July 2023 | Nomination Day |
| 29 July–11 August 2023 | Campaigning Period |
| 8–11 August 2023 | Early Polling Days For Postal, Overseas and Advance Voters |
| 12 August 2023 | Polling Day |

## Retiring incumbent(s)

The following members of the 14th State Legislative Assembly retired.
| No. | State Constituency | Departing MLA | Coalition (Party) | Date confirmed | First elected | Reason |
| N22 | Gurun | Johari Abdul | PH (PKR) | 18 December 2022 | 2018 | Appointment as Speaker of Dewan Rakyat. |
| N28 | Bakar Arang | Simon Ooi Tze Min | PH (PKR) | 21 July 2023 | 2013 | Dropped by party. |
| N35 | Kulim | Yeo Keng Chuan | PH (PKR) | 21 July 2023 | 2018 | Dropped by party. |
| N14 | Alor Mengkudu | Phahrolrazi Mohd Zawawi | PH (PKR) | 21 July 2023 | 2008 | Dropped by party. |
| N23 | Belantek | Mohd Isa Shafie | PN (PAS) | 15 June 2023 | 1999 | Died in office. |
| N27 | Pantai Merdeka | Ahmad Fadzli Hashim | PN (PAS) | 27 July 2023 | 2018 | Dropped by party. |
| N30 | Bayu | Abd Nasir Idris | PN (PAS) | 27 July 2023 | 2018 | Not contesting state election (Senator). |
| N01 | Ayer Hangat | Juhari Bulat | PN (BERSATU) | 26 June 2023 | 2018 | Not seeking re-election. |
| N21 | Guar Chempedak | Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail | PN (BERSATU) | 26 June 2023 | 2008 | Not contesting state election (MP for Kubang Pasu). |
| N34 | Lunas | Azman Nasrudin | PN (BERSATU) | 26 June 2023 | 2013 | Not contesting state election (MP for Padang Serai). |
| N02 | Kuah | Mohd Firdaus Ahmad | PN (BERSATU) | 26 June 2023 | 2018 | Dropped by party. |
| N29 | Sidam | Robert Ling Kui Ee | PN (BERSATU) | 26 June 2023 | 2013 | Dropped by party. |
| N19 | Sungai Tiang | Suraya Yaacob | BN (UMNO) | 1 July 2023 | 2004 | Not seeking re-election. |
| N36 | Bandar Baharu | Norsabrina Mohd. Noor | BN (UMNO) | 21 July 2023 | 2013 | Dropped by party. |
| N06 | Jitra | Mukhriz Mahathir | PEJUANG | 22 July 2023 | 2013 | Incumbent's party not contesting election. |
| N15 | Anak Bukit | Amiruddin Hamzah | PEJUANG | 22 July 2023 | 2002 | Incumbent's party not contesting election. |

## Electoral candidates

| No. | Parliamentary Constituency | No. | State Constituency | Voters | Incumbent State Assemblymen | Coalition (Party) | Political coalitions and parties | Political coalitions and parties | Political coalitions and parties | Political coalitions and parties | Political coalitions and parties | Political coalitions and parties | Political coalitions and parties | Political coalitions and parties | Political coalitions and parties | Political coalitions and parties |
| No. | Parliamentary Constituency | No. | State Constituency | Voters | Incumbent State Assemblymen | Coalition (Party) | Barisan Nasional + Pakatan Harapan | Barisan Nasional + Pakatan Harapan | Perikatan Nasional | Perikatan Nasional | Other parties/Independent candidates | Other parties/Independent candidates | Other parties/Independent candidates | Other parties/Independent candidates | Other parties/Independent candidates | Other parties/Independent candidates |
| No. | Parliamentary Constituency | No. | State Constituency | Voters | Incumbent State Assemblymen | Coalition (Party) | Candidate Name | Party | Candidate Name | Party | Candidate Name | Party | Candidate Name | Party | Candidate Name | Party |
| P004 | Langkawi | N01 | Ayer Hangat | 33,156 | Juhari Bulat | PN (BERSATU) | Hisham Suhaily Othman | UMNO | Shamsilah Siru | BERSATU | Safwan Hanif | IND | Zulfadli Mohd Yusoff | IND | | |
| P004 | Langkawi | N02 | Kuah | 34,694 | Mohd Firdaus Ahmad | PN (BERSATU) | Mohd Fauzi Chik | PKR | Ahmad Pared Mahmud | BERSATU | Mazlan Ahmad | IND | | | | |
| P005 | Jerlun | N03 | Kota Siputeh | 29,777 | Salmee Said | PH (AMANAH) | Salmee Said | AMANAH | Mohd Ashraf Mustaqim Badrul Munir | BERSATU | Abdul Ramli Latif | IND | | | | |
| P005 | Jerlun | N04 | Ayer Hitam | 37,819 | Azhar Ibrahim | PN (PAS) | Hayazi Azizan | UMNO | Azhar Ibrahim | PAS | | | | | | |
| P006 | Kubang Pasu | N05 | Bukit Kayu Hitam | 46,054 | Halimaton Shaadiah Saad | PN (BERSATU) | Zainol Abidin Mohamad | UMNO | Halimaton Shaadiah Saad | BERSATU | | | | | | |
| P006 | Kubang Pasu | N06 | Jitra | 63,059 | Mukhriz Mahathir | PEJUANG | Sabrina Ahmad | PKR | Haim Hilman Abdullah | PAS | | | | | | |
| P007 | Padang Terap | N07 | Kuala Nerang | 31,481 | Munir @ Mohamad Yusoff Zakaria | PN (PAS) | Rizwan Abu Bakar | AMANAH | Munir @ Mohamad Yusoff Zakaria | PAS | | | | | | |
| P007 | Padang Terap | N08 | Pedu | 28,606 | Mohd Radzi Md Amin | PN (PAS) | Mahdzir Khalid | UMNO | Mohd Radzi Md Amin | PAS | | | | | | |
| P008 | Pokok Sena | N09 | Bukit Lada | 40,729 | Salim Mahmood | PN (PAS) | Syed Ali Syed Rastan | UMNO | Salim Mahmood | PAS | | | | | | |
| P008 | Pokok Sena | N10 | Bukit Pinang | 36,791 | Wan Romani Wan Salim | PN (PAS) | Hazir Mat Zain | PKR | Wan Romani Wan Salim | PAS | | | | | | |
| P008 | Pokok Sena | N11 | Derga | 37,738 | Tan Kok Yew | PH (DAP) | Tan Kok Yew | DAP | Muhammad Amri Wahab | BERSATU | Noor Azman Basharon | IND | | | | |
| P009 | Alor Setar | N12 | Suka Menanti | 41,957 | Zamri Yusuf | PH (PKR) | Zamri Yusuf | PKR | Dzowahir Ab Ghani | BERSATU | | | | | | |
| P009 | Alor Setar | N13 | Kota Darul Aman | 25,829 | Teh Swee Leong | PH (DAP) | Teh Swee Leong | DAP | Chuah See Seng | GERAKAN | | | | | | |
| P009 | Alor Setar | N14 | Alor Mengkudu | 38,193 | Phahrolrazi Mohd Zawawi | PH (PKR) | Mahfuz Omar | AMANAH | Muhamad Radhi Mat Din | PAS | | | | | | |
| P010 | Kuala Kedah | N15 | Anak Bukit | 36,491 | Amiruddin Hamzah | PEJUANG | Nor Hasita Md. Isa | UMNO | Rashidi Abdul Razak | PAS | | | | | | |
| P010 | Kuala Kedah | N16 | Kubang Rotan | 50,233 | Mohd Asmirul Anuar Aris | PH (AMANAH) | Mohd Asmirul Anuar Aris | AMANAH | Mohd Salleh Saidin | BERSATU | | | | | | |
| P010 | Kuala Kedah | N17 | Pengkalan Kundor | 46,235 | Ismail Salleh | PH (AMANAH) | Ismail Salleh | AMANAH | Mardhiyyah Johari | PAS | | | | | | |
| P011 | Pendang | N18 | Tokai | 45,374 | Mohd Hayati Othman | PN (PAS) | Zainal Abidin Saad | AMANAH | Mohd Hayati Othman | PAS | | | | | | |
| P011 | Pendang | N19 | Sungai Tiang | 49,414 | Suraya Yaacob | BN (UMNO) | Mohamad Fadzil Zolkipli | UMNO | Abdul Razak Khamis | BERSATU | | | | | | |
| P012 | Jerai | N20 | Sungai Limau | 34,283 | Mohd Azam Abd Samat | PN (PAS) | Siti Balkhis Husain | AMANAH | Mohd Azam Abd Samat | PAS | | | | | | |
| P012 | Jerai | N21 | Guar Chempedak | 30,085 | Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail | PN (BERSATU) | Abdul Paris Abdul Hamid | UMNO | Abdul Ghafar Saad | BERSATU | Ku Abdul Halim Ku Ismail | IND | | | | |
| P012 | Jerai | N22 | Gurun | 40,941 | Vacant | Vacant | Mohammed Firdaus Johari | PKR | Baddrol Bakhtiar | PAS | | | | | | |
| P013 | Sik | N23 | Belantek | 28,165 | Vacant | Vacant | Mazli Saipi | AMANAH | Ahmad Sulaiman | PAS | | | | | | |
| P013 | Sik | N24 | Jeneri | 35,097 | Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor | PN (PAS) | Muhamad Khizri Abu Kassim | UMNO | Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor | PAS | | | | | | |
| P014 | Merbok | N25 | Bukit Selambau | 79,518 | Summugam Rengasamy | PH (PKR) | Summugam Rengasamy | PKR | Azizan Hamzah | PAS | Dinesh Muniandy | IND | | | | |
| P014 | Merbok | N26 | Tanjong Dawai | 54,629 | Hanif Ghazali | PN (PAS) | Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin | UMNO | Hanif Ghazali | PAS | | | | | | |
| P015 | Sungai Petani | N27 | Pantai Merdeka | 51,502 | Ahmad Fadzli Hashim | PN (PAS) | Wan Mohalina Wan Mohamad | UMNO | Shahrir Long | PAS | | | | | | |
| P015 | Sungai Petani | N28 | Bakar Arang | 57,867 | Simon Ooi Tze Min | PH (PKR) | Adam Loh Wee Chai | PKR | Tai Kuang Tee | GERAKAN | Tan Kee Chye | PRM | | | | |
| P015 | Sungai Petani | N29 | Sidam | 60,983 | Robert Ling Kui Ee | PN (BERSATU) | Bau Wong Bau Ek | PKR | Juliana Abdul Ghani | BERSATU | | | | | | |
| P016 | Baling | N30 | Bayu | 47,613 | Abd Nasir Idris | PN (PAS) | Ishak Mat | UMNO | Mohd Taufik Yaacob | BERSATU | | | | | | |
| P016 | Baling | N31 | Kupang | 42,720 | Najmi Ahmad | PN (PAS) | Muhammad Suhaimi Hamzah | AMANAH | Najmi Ahmad | PAS | | | | | | |
| P016 | Baling | N32 | Kuala Ketil | 42,184 | Mansor Zakaria | PN (PAS) | Suriati Che Mid | UMNO | Mansor Zakaria | PAS | | | | | | |
| P017 | Padang Serai | N33 | Merbau Pulas | 53,323 | Siti Ashah Ghazali | PN (PAS) | Asmadi Abu Talib | UMNO | Siti Ashah Ghazali | PAS | | | | | | |
| P017 | Padang Serai | N34 | Lunas | 82,212 | Azman Nasrudin | PN (BERSATU) | Shamsul Anuar Abdullah | PKR | Khairul Anuar Ramli | BERSATU | Rajendaran Nadarajan | IND | Pannir Selvam S Suppiah | IND | Arichindarem Sinappayen | IND |
| P018 | Kulim-Bandar Baharu | N35 | Kulim | 54,169 | Yeo Keng Chuan | PH (PKR) | Teh Lean Ong | PKR | Wong Chia Zhen | GERAKAN | | | | | | |
| P018 | Kulim-Bandar Baharu | N36 | Bandar Baharu | 36,164 | Norsabrina Mohd. Noor | BN (UMNO) | Nuraini Yusoff | UMNO | Mohd Suffian Yusoff | PAS | | | | | | |

## Opinion polls

| Polling firm | Dates conducted | Sample size | PH+BN | PN | Oth | Lead | Ref |
| Ilham Centre | 29 July – 8 August 2023 | 2,304 | 24% | 69% | 7% | PN +45% | |

## Results

| Party or alliance | Party or alliance | Party or alliance | Party or alliance | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
| | Perikatan Nasional | | Malaysian Islamic Party | 525,909 | 45.24 | 21 | +6 |
| | Perikatan Nasional | | Malaysian United Indigenous Party | 228,459 | 19.65 | 11 | +6 |
| | Perikatan Nasional | | Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia | 47,012 | 4.04 | 1 | +1 |
| | Perikatan Nasional | Total | Total | 801,380 | 68.93 | 33 | +13 |
| | Pakatan Harapan + Barisan Nasional | | People's Justice Party | 150,863 | 12.98 | 2 | –5 |
| | Pakatan Harapan + Barisan Nasional | | United Malays National Organisation | 116,340 | 10.01 | 0 | –3 |
| | Pakatan Harapan + Barisan Nasional | | National Trust Party | 60,842 | 5.23 | 0 | –4 |
| | Pakatan Harapan + Barisan Nasional | | Democratic Action Party | 21,949 | 1.89 | 1 | –1 |
| | Pakatan Harapan + Barisan Nasional | Total | Total | 349,994 | 30.11 | 3 | –13 |
| | Parti Rakyat Malaysia | Parti Rakyat Malaysia | Parti Rakyat Malaysia | 138 | 0.01 | 0 | New |
| | Independents | Independents | Independents | 11,057 | 0.95 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 1,162,569 | 100.00 | 36 | – |

### By parliamentary constituency

PN won all parliamentary constituency by average percentages.
| No. | Constituency | Pakatan Harapan + Barisan Nasional | Perikatan Nasional | Member of Parliament |
| P004 | Langkawi | 23.37% | 55.46% | Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah |
| P005 | Jerlun | 20.49% | 78.89% | Abdul Ghani Ahmad |
| P006 | Kubang Pasu | 25.62% | 74.38% | Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail |
| P007 | Padang Terap | 26.44% | 73.56% | Nurul Amin Hamid |
| P008 | Pokok Sena | 26.51% | 73.21% | Ahmad Saad Yahaya |
| P009 | Alor Setar | 41.30% | 58.70% | Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden |
| P010 | Kuala Kedah | 30.48% | 69.52% | Ahmad Fakruddin Fakhrurazi |
| P011 | Pendang | 21.48% | 78.52% | Awang Solahuddin Hashim |
| P012 | Jerai | 25.99% | 73.79% | Sabri Azit |
| P013 | Sik | 19.18% | 80.82% | Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman |
| P014 | Merbok | 32.30% | 67.31% | Mohd Nazri Abu Hassan |
| P015 | Sungai Petani | 42.24% | 57.64% | Mohammed Taufiq Johari |
| P016 | Baling | 24.22% | 75.78% | Hassan Saad |
| P017 | Padang Serai | 34.52% | 64.79% | Azman Nasrudin |
| P018 | Kulim-Bandar Baharu | 35.34% | 64.66% | Roslan Hashim |

### Seats that changed allegiance

| No. | Seat | Previous Party (2018) | Current Party (2023) |
| N01 | Ayer Hangat | Pakatan Harapan (BERSATU) | Perikatan Nasional (BERSATU) |
| N02 | Kuah | Pakatan Harapan (BERSATU) | Perikatan Nasional (BERSATU) |
| N03 | Kota Siputeh | Pakatan Harapan (AMANAH) | Perikatan Nasional (BERSATU) |
| N05 | Bukit Kayu Hitam | Pakatan Harapan (BERSATU) | Perikatan Nasional (BERSATU) |
| N06 | Jitra | Pakatan Harapan (BERSATU) | Perikatan Nasional (PAS) |
| N11 | Derga | Pakatan Harapan (DAP) | Perikatan Nasional (BERSATU) |
| N12 | Suka Menanti | Pakatan Harapan (PKR) | Perikatan Nasional (BERSATU) |
| N14 | Alor Mengkudu | Pakatan Harapan (AMANAH) | Perikatan Nasional (PAS) |
| N15 | Anak Bukit | Pakatan Harapan (BERSATU) | Perikatan Nasional (PAS) |
| N16 | Kubang Rotan | Pakatan Harapan (AMANAH) | Perikatan Nasional (BERSATU) |
| N17 | Pengkalan Kundor | Pakatan Harapan (AMANAH) | Perikatan Nasional (PAS) |
| N19 | Sungai Tiang | Barisan Nasional (UMNO) | Perikatan Nasional (BERSATU) |
| N21 | Guar Chempedak | Barisan Nasional (UMNO) | Perikatan Nasional (BERSATU) |
| N22 | Gurun | Pakatan Harapan (PKR) | Perikatan Nasional (PAS) |
| N25 | Bukit Selambau | Pakatan Harapan (PKR) | Perikatan Nasional (PAS) |
| N30 | Bayu | PAS | Perikatan Nasional (BERSATU) |
| N34 | Lunas | Pakatan Harapan (PKR) | Perikatan Nasional (BERSATU) |
| N35 | Kulim | Pakatan Harapan (PKR) | Perikatan Nasional (GERAKAN) |
| N36 | Bandar Baharu | Barisan Nasional (UMNO) | Perikatan Nasional (PAS) |

## Aftermath

Mohd Sanusi were sworn in as Menteri Besar for his second term in front of Sultan of Kedah on 14 August 2023. Ten EXCO members were sworn in on 21 August.
MLA for Sidam, Bau Wong Bau Ek from PH-PKR were appointed as Opposition Leader on 26 November.