EC to meet Wednesday on Chempaka by-election

The Election Commission (EC) is to meet on Wednesday to set the dates for nomination and polling for the Chempaka state by-election in Kelantan, EC secretary Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh said today.

The seat fell vacant following the death of PAS spiritual leader and former Kelantan menteri besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat last Thursday. He was 84.

Abdul Ghani said the meeting would be chaired by EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof.

"The meeting would also discuss the electoral rolls that will be used and the preparations for the by-election," he said in a statement.

A press conference would be held after the meeting, he said.

Yesterday, Kelantan State Assembly speaker Datuk Abdullah Ya'kub announced the vacant seat at a news conference in Kota Baharu.

In the 13th general election, in 2013, Nik Aziz defeated Barisan Nasional candidate Wan Razman Wan Abd Razak with a majority of 6,500 votes to win the seat.

Nik Aziz polled 12,310 votes while Wan Razman received 5,810.