# 2023 Kelantan state election

The 15th Kelantan state election were held on 12 August 2023 to elect the State Assembly members of the 15th Kelantan State Legislative Assembly, the legislature of the Malaysian state of Kelantan.
Kelantan 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 43 of 45 seats in a landslide, achieving a supermajority in the legislature, and continuing PAS' dominance in the state since 1990. The Barisan Nasional (BN) – Pakatan Harapan (PH) electoral pact won the remaining 2 seats, with BN and PH each winning 1 seat, and becoming the main opposition in the state assembly.
This was the first Kelantan state election not held concurrently with the national general election since 1978, when Kelantan held its election in March that year as opposed to the general election date in July.

## Background

For the state elections, Perikatan Nasional has decided to use the PAS logo and name for all its candidate in Kelantan and Terengganu, regardless of the candidate party.

## Constituencies

All 45 constituencies within Kelantan, which constitute the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly, were contested during the election.

## Composition before dissolution

| Government | Government | Opposition |
| PN | PN | BN |
| 37 | 37 | 7 |
| 36 | 1 | 7 |
| PAS | BERSATU | UMNO |

## Timeline

The key dates are listed below.
| Date | Event |
| 13 October 2022 | Perikatan Nasional decides not to dissolve the 14th Kelantan State Legislative Assembly. |
| 22 June 2023 | Dissolution of the Kelatan 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 did not contest this election.
| No. | State Constituency | Departing MLA | Coalition (Party) | Date confirmed | First elected | Reason |
| N22 | Melor | Md Yusnan Yusof | PN (PAS) | 30 April 2021 | 2013 | Died in office. |
| N9 | Kota Lama | Anuar Tan Abdullah | PN (PAS) | 2 July 2023 | 1999 | Retired from politics. |
| N06 | Chempaka | Ahmad Fathan Mahmood | PN (PAS) | 27 July 2023 | 2015 | Dropped by party. |
| N10 | Bunut Payong | Ramli Mamat | PN (PAS) | 27 July 2023 | 2013 | Dropped by party. |
| N12 | Pengkalan Pasir | Hanifa Ahmad | PN (PAS) | 27 July 2023 | 2008 | Dropped by party. |
| N15 | Gual Periok | Mohamad Awang | PN (PAS) | 27 July 2023 | 2008 | Dropped by party. |
| N16 | Apam Putra | Abdul Rasul Mohamed | PN (PAS) | 27 July 2023 | 2013 | Dropped by party. |
| N17 | Salor | Saiful Adli Abu Bakar | PN (PAS) | 27 July 2023 | 2018 | Dropped by party. |
| N19 | Demit | Mumtaz Md. Nawi | PN (PAS) | 27 July 2023 | 2013 | Dropped by party. |
| N20 | Tawang | Hassan Mohamood | PN (PAS) | 27 July 2023 | 1995 | Dropped by party. |
| N22 | Jelawat | Abdul Azziz Kadir | PN (PAS) | 27 July 2023 | 2008 | Dropped by party. |
| N30 | Limbongan | Mohd Nazlan Mohamed Hasbullah | PN (PAS) | 27 July 2023 | 2013 | Dropped by party. |
| N35 | Kemuning | Mohd Roseli Ismail | PN (PAS) | 27 July 2023 | 2013 | Dropped by party. |
| N39 | Mengkebang | Muhammad Mat Sulaiman | PN (PAS) | 27 July 2023 | 2018 | Dropped by party. |
| N37 | Ayer Lanas | Mustapa Mohamed | PN (BERSATU) | 2 November 2022 | 2004 | Retired from politics. |
| N25 | Kok Lanas | Md Alwi Che Ahmad | BN (UMNO) | 27 April 2023 | 2008 | Retired from politics. |
| N27 | Gual Ipoh | Bakri Mustapha | BN (UMNO) | 21 July 2023 | 2013 | Dropped by party. |
| N38 | Kuala Balah | Abd Aziz Derashid | BN (UMNO) | 21 July 2023 | 2004 | Dropped by party. |

## Electoral candidates

Names in bold are the confirmed winners in the 2023 state election.
| 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 |
| 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/Independents | Other parties/Independents | Other parties/Independents | Other parties/Independents |
| No. | Parliamentary Constituency | No. | State Constituency | Voters | Incumbent State Assemblymen | Coalition (Party) | Candidate Name | Party | Candidate Name | Party | Candidate Name | Party | Candidiate Name | Party |
| P019 | Tumpat | N01 | Pengkalan Kubor | 36,492 | Wan Roslan Wan Hamat | PN (PAS) | Zulkifli Abdullah | UMNO | Wan Roslan Wan Hamat | PAS | | | | |
| P019 | Tumpat | N02 | Kelaboran | 38,198 | Mohd Adanan Hassan | PN (PAS) | Mohd Rosdi Razali | UMNO | Mohd Adanan Hassan | PAS | | | | |
| P019 | Tumpat | N03 | Pasir Pekan | 39,119 | Ahmad Yakob | PN (PAS) | Zamakhsari Ibrahim | PKR | Ahmad Yakob | PAS | | | | |
| P019 | Tumpat | N04 | Wakaf Bharu | 36,439 | Mohd Rusli Abdullah | PN (PAS) | Abdul Mannan Md Said | UMNO | Mohd Rusli Abdullah | PAS | | | | |
| P020 | Pengkalan Chepa | N05 | Kijang | 30,405 | Izani Husin | PN (PAS) | Haris Hussin | UMNO | Izani Husin | PAS | | | | |
| P020 | Pengkalan Chepa | N06 | Chempaka | 34,641 | Ahmad Fathan Mahmood | PN (PAS) | Nik Normi Nik Ayub | UMNO | Nik Asma' Bahrum Nik Abdullah | PAS | Ibrahim Sulong | IND | | |
| P020 | Pengkalan Chepa | N07 | Panchor | 42,768 | Mohd Amar Abdullah | PN (PAS) | Syed Mohd Alidustur Syed Mohd Zain | PKR | Mohd Amar Abdullah | PAS | | | | |
| P021 | Kota Bharu | N08 | Tanjong Mas | 45,579 | Rohani Ibrahim | PN (PAS) | Zinda Khalil Sastro Hassan | PKR | Rohani Ibrahim | PAS | | | | |
| P021 | Kota Bharu | N09 | Kota Lama | 33,043 | Tan Teng Loon @ Anuar Tan Abdullah | PN (PAS) | Hafidzah Mustakim | AMANAH | Zamri Ismail | PAS | Andy Tan Boon Kian | PRM | Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary | IND |
| P021 | Kota Bharu | N10 | Bunut Payong | 36,844 | Ramli Mamat | PN (PAS) | Mohamed Hasnan Che Hussin | UMNO | Shaari Mat Yaman | PAS | | | | |
| P022 | Pasir Mas | N11 | Tendong | 31,768 | Rozi Muhammad | PN (PAS) | Noor Hariri Mohamed Noor | UMNO | Rozi Muhammad | PAS | Suzainal Adnan Sukri | IND | | |
| P022 | Pasir Mas | N12 | Pengkalan Pasir | 33,007 | Hanifa Ahmad | PN (PAS) | Rushdan Mustafa | AMANAH | Mohamad Nasriff Daud | PAS | | | | |
| P022 | Pasir Mas | N13 | Meranti | 29,980 | Mohd. Nassuruddin Daud | PN (PAS) | Zahari Omar | UMNO | Mohd. Nassuruddin Daud | PAS | | | | |
| P023 | Rantau Panjang | N14 | Chetok | 29,111 | Zuraidin Abdullah | PN (PAS) | Ezzat Zahrim Hanuzi | PKR | Zuraidin Abdullah | PAS | | | | |
| P023 | Rantau Panjang | N15 | Gual Periok | 36,081 | Mohamad Awang | PN (PAS) | Anuar Mohamad | UMNO | Kamaruzaman Mohamad | PAS | | | | |
| P023 | Rantau Panjang | N16 | Apam Putra | 28,834 | Abdul Rasul Mohamed | PN (PAS) | Akbar Salim | UMNO | Zamakhshari Mohamad | PAS | | | | |
| P024 | Kubang Kerian | N17 | Salor | 36,294 | Saiful Adli Abu Bakar | PN (PAS) | Mohamad Husain | UMNO | Saizol Ismail | PAS | | | | |
| P024 | Kubang Kerian | N18 | Pasir Tumboh | 37,498 | Abd Rahman Yunus | PN (PAS) | Naziratul Aini Mohd Sayuty | PKR | Abd Rahman Yunus | PAS | | | | |
| P024 | Kubang Kerian | N19 | Demit | 40,561 | Mumtaz Md. Nawi | PN (PAS) | Ismail Ghani | AMANAH | Mohd Asri Mat Daud | PAS | | | | |
| P025 | Bachok | N20 | Tawang | 43,441 | Hassan Mohamood | PN (PAS) | Mat Isa Che Dir | AMANAH | Harun Ismail | PAS | | | | |
| P025 | Bachok | N21 | Pantai Irama | 40,512 | Mohd Huzaimy Che Husin | PN (PAS) | Zakiah Md Noor | UMNO | Mohd Huzaimy Che Husin | PAS | | | | |
| P025 | Bachok | N22 | Jelawat | 40,012 | Abdul Azziz Kadir | PN (PAS) | Yusri Che Noh | UMNO | Zameri Mat Nawang | PAS | Zulkarnain Haron | IND | | |
| P026 | Ketereh | N23 | Melor | 28,387 | Vacant | Vacant | Azmi Ishak | UMNO | Wan Rohimi Wan Daud | PAS | | | | |
| P026 | Ketereh | N24 | Kadok | 21,833 | Azami Md. Nor | PN (PAS) | Mohd Azizan Razak | AMANAH | Azami Md. Nor | PAS | | | | |
| P026 | Ketereh | N25 | Kok Lanas | 35,679 | Md Alwi Che Ahmad | BN (UMNO) | Ahmad Deraman | UMNO | Mohamed Farid Mohamed Zawawi | BERSATU | | | | |
| P027 | Tanah Merah | N26 | Bukit Panau | 50,237 | Abdul Fattah Mahmood | PN (PAS) | Samsu Adabi | AMANAH | Abdul Fattah Mahmood | PAS | | | | |
| P027 | Tanah Merah | N27 | Gual Ipoh | 25,718 | Bakri Mustapha | BN (UMNO) | Zuhairi Zakaria | UMNO | Bahari Mohamad Nor | BERSATU | | | | |
| P027 | Tanah Merah | N28 | Kemahang | 23,258 | Md. Anizam Ab. Rahman | PN (PAS) | Mazli Mustafa | UMNO | Md. Anizam Ab. Rahman | PAS | | | | |
| P028 | Pasir Puteh | N29 | Selising | 28,725 | Tuan Mohd Saripuddin Tuan Ismail | PN (PAS) | Hashim Ismail | UMNO | Tuan Mohd Saripuddin Tuan Ismail | PAS | | | | |
| P028 | Pasir Puteh | N30 | Limbongan | 35,393 | Mohd Nazlan Mohamed Hasbullah | PN (PAS) | Kamaruddin Mat Zin | PKR | Nor Asilah Mohamed Zin | PAS | | | | |
| P028 | Pasir Puteh | N31 | Semerak | 26,781 | Wan Hassan Wan Ibrahim | PN (PAS) | Marshella Ali | UMNO | Nor Sham Sulaiman | PAS | | | | |
| P028 | Pasir Puteh | N32 | Gaal | 22,671 | Mohd Rodzi Ja'afar | PN (PAS) | Mohd Aliff Nasir Mt Nasin | UMNO | Mohd Rodzi Ja'afar | PAS | | | | |
| P029 | Machang | N33 | Pulai Chondong | 28,169 | Azhar Salleh | PN (PAS) | Muhammad Fakhran Che Jusoh | UMNO | Azhar Salleh | PAS | | | | |
| P029 | Machang | N34 | Temangan | 26,012 | Mohamed Fadzli Hassan | PN (PAS) | Abdul Kadir Othman | AMANAH | Mohamed Fadzli Hassan | PAS | Fauzi Seman | IND | | |
| P029 | Machang | N35 | Kemuning | 35,015 | Mohd Roseli Ismail | PN (PAS) | Mohd Fakaarudin Ismail | UMNO | Ahmad Zakhran Mat Noor | PAS | | | | |
| P030 | Jeli | N36 | Bukit Bunga | 21,722 | Mohd Adhan Kechik | BN (UMNO) | Mohd Adhan Kechik | UMNO | Mohd Almidi Jaafar | BERSATU | | | | |
| P030 | Jeli | N37 | Ayer Lanas | 22,468 | Mustapa Mohamed | PN (BERSATU) | Nasrul Hadi Kamarulzaman | UMNO | Kamarudin Md Nor | BERSATU | | | | |
| P030 | Jeli | N38 | Kuala Balah | 15,704 | Abd Aziz Derashid | BN (UMNO) | Mohd Yamiin Anuar Mat Zain | UMNO | Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil | PAS | | | | |
| P031 | Kuala Krai | N39 | Mengkebang | 26,843 | Muhammad Mat Sulaiman | PN (PAS) | Mohd Shukri Ishak | PKR | Zubir Abu Bakar | PAS | | | | |
| P031 | Kuala Krai | N40 | Guchil | 27,785 | Hilmi Abdullah | PN (PAS) | Zuber Hasan | UMNO | Hilmi Abdullah | PAS | | | | |
| P031 | Kuala Krai | N41 | Manek Urai | 22,611 | Mohd Fauzi Abdullah | PN (PAS) | Suzali Adlina Sukri | UMNO | Mohd Fauzi Abdullah | PAS | | | | |
| P031 | Kuala Krai | N42 | Dabong | 15,255 | Ku Mohd Zaki Ku Hussien | PN (PAS) | Ahmad Firdaus Mohamad | UMNO | Ku Mohd Zaki Ku Hussin | PAS | | | | |
| P032 | Gua Musang | N43 | Nenggiri | 20,219 | Ab Aziz Yusoff | BN (UMNO) | Ab Aziz Yusoff | UMNO | Mohd Azizi Abu Naim | BERSATU | | | | |
| P032 | Gua Musang | N44 | Paloh | 21,162 | Amran Arifin | BN (UMNO) | Amran Arifin | UMNO | Shaari Mat Hussain | BERSATU | | | | |
| P032 | Gua Musang | N45 | Galas | 29,638 | Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim | BN (UMNO) | Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim | UMNO | Mohd Tarmizi Abd Rahman | PAS | | | | |

## Opinion polls

| Polling firm | Dates conducted | Sample size | PH+BN | PN | Oth | Lead | Ref |
| Ilham Centre | 29 July – 8 August 2023 | 2,304 | 13% | 65% | 22% | PN +43% | |

## Results

| Party or alliance | Party or alliance | Party or alliance | Party or alliance | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
| | Perikatan Nasional | | Malaysian Islamic Party | 531,899 | 62.44 | 37 | 0 |
| | Perikatan Nasional | | Malaysian United Indigenous Party | 57,797 | 6.78 | 6 | +6 |
| | Perikatan Nasional | Total | Total | 589,696 | 69.23 | 43 | +6 |
| | Pakatan Harapan + Barisan Nasional | | United Malays National Organisation | 178,437 | 20.95 | 1 | –7 |
| | Pakatan Harapan + Barisan Nasional | | People's Justice Party | 41,572 | 4.88 | 0 | 0 |
| | Pakatan Harapan + Barisan Nasional | | National Trust Party | 40,116 | 4.71 | 1 | +1 |
| | Pakatan Harapan + Barisan Nasional | Total | Total | 260,125 | 30.54 | 2 | –6 |
| | Parti Rakyat Malaysia | Parti Rakyat Malaysia | Parti Rakyat Malaysia | 126 | 0.01 | 0 | New |
| | Independents | Independents | Independents | 1,894 | 0.22 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 851,841 | 100.00 | 45 | – |

### By parliamentary constituency

PN won 13 out of 14 parliamentary constituency by average percentages.
| No. | Constituency | Pakatan Harapan + Barisan Nasional | Perikatan Nasional | Member of Parliament |
| P019 | Tumpat | 30.27% | 69.73% | Mumtaz Md Nawi |
| P020 | Pengkalan Chepa | 26.56% | 73.10% | Ahmad Marzuk Shaary |
| P021 | Kota Bharu | 39.56% | 60.13% | Takiyuddin Hassan |
| P022 | Pasir Mas | 28.62% | 69.06% | Ahmad Fadhli Shaari |
| P023 | Rantau Panjang | 33.61% | 66.39% | Siti Zailah Mohd Yusof |
| P024 | Kubang Kerian | 25.54% | 74.46% | Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man |
| P025 | Bachok | 26.39% | 73.25% | Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman |
| P026 | Ketereh | 29.26% | 70.74% | Khlir Mohd Nor |
| P027 | Tanah Merah | 23.62% | 76.38% | Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz |
| P028 | Pasir Puteh | 29.55% | 70.45% | Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh |
| P029 | Machang | 31.85% | 67.75% | Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal |
| P030 | Jeli | 34.00% | 66.00% | Zahari Kechik |
| P031 | Kuala Krai | 26.35% | 73.65% | Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman |
| P032 | Gua Musang | 50.37% | 49.63% | Mohd Azizi Abu Naim |

### Seats that changed allegiance

| No. | Seat | Previous Party (2018) | Current Party (2023) |
| N09 | Kota Lama | PAS | Pakatan Harapan (AMANAH) |
| N25 | Kok Lanas | Barisan Nasional (UMNO) | Perikatan Nasional (BERSATU) |
| N27 | Gual Ipoh | Barisan Nasional (UMNO) | Perikatan Nasional (BERSATU) |
| N36 | Bukit Bunga | Barisan Nasional (UMNO) | Perikatan Nasional (BERSATU) |
| N37 | Ayer Lanas | Barisan Nasional (UMNO) | Perikatan Nasional (BERSATU) |
| N38 | Kuala Balah | Barisan Nasional (UMNO) | Perikatan Nasional (PAS) |
| N43 | Nenggiri | Barisan Nasional (UMNO) | Perikatan Nasional (BERSATU) |
| N44 | Paloh | Barisan Nasional (UMNO) | Perikatan Nasional (BERSATU) |

## Aftermath

Prior to the state elections, reports suggesting Ahmad Yakob, two-term Menteri Besar, will not continue in the role if PN won the election. The reports were confirmed by Ahmad, who is the PAS state commissioner and MLA for Pasir Pekan, on 12 August.
Mohd. Nassuruddin Daud, elected MLA for Meranti, were sworn in as the new Menteri Besar of Kelantan on 15 March, replacing Ahmad. Along with Nassuruddin, MLA for Temangan Mohamed Fadzli Hassan were sworn in as Deputy Menteri Besar, with 9 other EXCO members also sworn in on the same date.
On 7 November 2023, MLA for Nenggiri Mohd Azizi Abu Naim declared his support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's government. Due to Azizi's action violating the party's constitution, BERSATU revoked the memberships of his and 5 other politicians who also declared support for Anwar, and seeks to vacate the seats of the 6 politicians. The seat of Nenggiri was declared vacant by the Speaker of the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly, Mohd Amar Abdullah, on 19 June 2024, paving way for by-election of the seat. The by-election were won by UMNO, turning back the seat into BN's hands a year after the state election.