UMNO's decision not to contest in the coming Chempaka state seat by-election was made after considering the people's welfare and unity, regardless of political ideology.

Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said UMNO had unanimously agreed to focus on post-flood rehabilitation and strengthening the people’s unity.

"The two seats of Chempaka and Permatang Pauh are the seats that must be contested by UMNO. But in the recent supreme council meeting, all members of the supreme council expressed views that Kelantan had just experienced floods and therefore, we should rather focus on post-flood rehabilitation and foster good relationship with people in the affected areas, regardless which party they come from,” he said after a food court development project ground-breaking ceremony here Friday.

Tengku Adnan said the decision had not been tabled officially by all BN component parties but would do so in the next BN component meeting.

"BN component parties are well informed on the issue a week before the supreme council meeting, and BN component parties are aware the seat should be contested by UMNO. This is what happened in the Bukit Gelugor (after the death of DAP chairman Karpal Singh), the seat is MCA's seat and MCA has informed BN
that it decided not to contest there with reason," he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the decision for UMNO not to contest in the Kelantan state seat was made through various deliberations by UMNO's top leadership as well as its liaison body in Kelantan.

The Chempaka by-election, was called after the death of PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat. The Election Commission (EC) has set nomination on March 10 and polling on March 22.

The former Kelantan Menteri Besar who was suffering from prostate cancer died on Feb 12 at the age of 84.

In the 13th general election, Nik Abdul Aziz won the seat with a majority of 6,500 votes, receiving 12,310 votes, while BN candidate, Wan Razman Wan Abd Razak garnered 5,810 votes.