EC to be informed of vacant Chempaka state seat

KOTA BAHARU: Kelantan State Assembly Speaker Datuk Abdullah Ya’kub said the Election Commission (EC) will be informed of the vacancy of the Chempaka seat yesterday.

He said a letter and the death certificate of Chempaka state assemblyman Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat will be sent to Kelantan EC director Mohamad Mahmud.

“Article 46 (5) of the Kelantan State Constitution states that a vacant seat has to be filled within 60 days from the date it is found to be vacant by EC,” he told a press conference at his office in Kompleks Kota Darulnaim here yesterday.

The Chempaka seat fel l vacant following the death of former Kelantan menteri besar Nik Abdul Aziz, 84, on February 12 after a long fight with prostate cancer.

Abdullah said that he received the death certificate of Nik Abdul Aziz from members of his family at 9am yesterday.

“The Election Commission will determine the nomination date and the polling date for the Chempaka state by-election within 60 days,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mohamad when contacted, said the letter will be forwarded to EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof yesterday.

Nik Abdul Aziz (PAS) won the Chempaka state seat with a majority of 6,500 votes at the 13th general election (GE13) in 2013.

He received 12,310 votes while Wan Razman Wan Abd Razak ( BN) received 5,810 votes. – Bernama