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 GovernmentOppositionPN BN 3773617PASBERSATUUMNO

Timeline The key dates are listed below. DateEvent13 October 2022Perikatan Nasional decides not to dissolve the 14th Kelantan State Legislative Assembly.22 June 2023Dissolution of the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly.5 July 2023Issue of the Writ of Election29 July 2023Nomination Day29 July–11 August 2023Campaigning Period8–11 August 2023Early Polling Days For Postal, Overseas and Advance Voters 12 August 2023Polling Day

Retiring incumbent(s) The following members of the 14th State Legislative Assembly did not contest this election. No.State ConstituencyDeparting MLACoalition (Party)Date confirmedFirst electedReasonN22MelorMd Yusnan Yusof30 April 20212013Died in office.N9Kota LamaAnuar Tan Abdullah2 July 20231999Retired from politics.N06ChempakaAhmad Fathan Mahmood27 July 20232015Dropped by party.N10Bunut PayongRamli Mamat2013N12Pengkalan PasirHanifa Ahmad2008N15Gual PeriokMohamad AwangN16Apam PutraAbdul Rasul Mohamed2013N17SalorSaiful Adli Abu Bakar2018N19DemitMumtaz Md. Nawi2013Dropped by party (MP for Tumpat)N20TawangHassan Mohamood1995Dropped by partyN22JelawatAbdul Azziz Kadir2008N30LimbonganMohd Nazlan Mohamed Hasbullah2013N35KemuningMohd Roseli IsmailN39MengkebangMuhammad Mat Sulaiman2018N37Ayer LanasMustapa Mohamed2 November 20222004 Retired from politics.N25Kok LanasMd Alwi Che AhmadBN (UMNO)27 April 20232008N27Gual IpohBakri Mustapha21 July 20232013Dropped by party.N38Kuala BalahAbd Aziz Derashid2004

Electoral candidates Names in bold are the confirmed winners in the 2023 state election. No.Parliamentary ConstituencyNo.State ConstituencyVotersIncumbent State AssemblymenCoalition (Party)Political coalitions and partiesBarisan Nasional + Pakatan HarapanPerikatan NasionalOther parties/IndependentsCandidate namePartyCandidate namePartyCandidate namePartyCandidiate NamePartyP019TumpatN01Pengkalan Kubor36,492Wan Roslan Wan HamatZulkifli AbdullahUMNOWan Roslan Wan HamatPASN02Kelaboran38,198Mohd Adanan HassanMohd Rosdi RazaliUMNOMohd Adanan HassanPASN03Pasir Pekan39,119Ahmad YakobZamakhsari IbrahimPKRAhmad YakobPASN04Wakaf Bharu36,439Mohd Rusli AbdullahAbdul Mannan Md SaidUMNOMohd Rusli AbdullahPASP020Pengkalan ChepaN05Kijang30,405Izani HusinHaris HussinUMNOIzani HusinPASN06Chempaka34,641Ahmad Fathan MahmoodNik Normi Nik AyubUMNONik Asma' Bahrum Nik AbdullahPASIbrahim SulongINDN07Panchor42,768Mohd Amar AbdullahSyed Mohd Alidustur Syed Mohd ZainPKRMohd Amar AbdullahPASP021Kota BharuN08Tanjong Mas45,579Rohani IbrahimZinda Khalil Sastro HassanPKRRohani IbrahimPASN09Kota Lama33,043Tan Teng Loon @ Anuar Tan AbdullahHafidzah MustakimAMANAHZamri IsmailPASAndy Tan Boon KianIzat Bukhary Ismail BukharyINDN10Bunut Payong36,844Ramli MamatMohamed Hasnan Che HussinUMNOShaari Mat YamanPASP022Pasir MasN11Tendong31,768Rozi MuhammadNoor Hariri Mohamed NoorUMNORozi MuhammadPASSuzainal Adnan SukriINDN12Pengkalan Pasir33,007Hanifa AhmadRushdan MustafaAMANAHMohamad Nasriff DaudPASN13Meranti29,980Mohd. Nassuruddin DaudZahari OmarUMNOMohd. Nassuruddin DaudPASP023Rantau PanjangN14Chetok29,111Zuraidin AbdullahEzzat Zahrim HanuziPKRZuraidin AbdullahPASN15Gual Periok36,081Mohamad AwangAnuar MohamadUMNOKamaruzaman MohamadPASN16Apam Putra28,834Abdul Rasul MohamedAkbar SalimUMNOZamakhshari MohamadPASP024Kubang KerianN17Salor36,294Saiful Adli Abu BakarMohamad HusainUMNOSaizol IsmailPASN18Pasir Tumboh37,498Abd Rahman YunusNaziratul Aini Mohd SayutyPKRAbd Rahman YunusPASN19Demit40,561Mumtaz Md. NawiIsmail GhaniAMANAHMohd Asri Mat DaudPASP025BachokN20Tawang43,441Hassan MohamoodMat Isa Che DirAMANAHHarun IsmailPASN21Pantai Irama40,512Mohd Huzaimy Che HusinZakiah Md NoorUMNOMohd Huzaimy Che HusinPASN22Jelawat40,012Abdul Azziz KadirYusri Che NohUMNOZameri Mat NawangPASZulkarnain HaronINDP026KeterehN23Melor28,387 VacantAzmi IshakUMNOWan Rohimi Wan DaudPASN24Kadok21,833Azami Md. NorMohd Azizan RazakAMANAHAzami Md. NorPASN25Kok Lanas35,679 Md Alwi Che AhmadBN (UMNO)Ahmad DeramanUMNOMohamed Farid Mohamed ZawawiBERSATUP027Tanah MerahN26Bukit Panau50,237Abdul Fattah MahmoodSamsu AdabiAMANAHAbdul Fattah MahmoodPASN27Gual Ipoh25,718 Bakri MustaphaBN (UMNO) Zuhairi ZakariaUMNOBahari Mohamad NorBERSATUN28Kemahang23,258Md. Anizam Ab. Rahman Mazli MustafaUMNOMd. Anizam Ab. RahmanPASP028Pasir PutehN29Selising28,725Tuan Mohd Saripuddin Tuan IsmailHashim IsmailUMNOTuan Mohd Saripuddin Tuan IsmailPASN30Limbongan35,393Mohd Nazlan Mohamed HasbullahKamaruddin Mat ZinPKRNor Asilah Mohamed ZinPASN31Semerak26,781Wan Hassan Wan IbrahimMarshella AliUMNONor Sham SulaimanPASN32Gaal22,671Mohd Rodzi Ja'afarMohd Aliff Nasir Mt NasinUMNOMohd Rodzi Ja'afarPASP029MachangN33Pulai Chondong28,169Azhar SallehMuhammad Fakhran Che JusohUMNOAzhar SallehPASN34Temangan26,012Mohamed Fadzli HassanAbdul Kadir OthmanAMANAHMohamed Fadzli HassanPASFauzi SemanINDN35Kemuning35,015Mohd Roseli IsmailMohd Fakaarudin IsmailUMNOAhmad Zakhran Mat NoorPASP030JeliN36Bukit Bunga21,722 Mohd Adhan KechikBN (UMNO) Mohd Adhan KechikUMNOMohd Almidi JaafarBERSATUN37Ayer Lanas22,468 Mustapa MohamedNasrul Hadi KamarulzamanUMNOKamarudin Md NorBERSATUN38Kuala Balah15,704 Abd Aziz DerashidBN (UMNO) Mohd Yamiin Anuar Mat ZainUMNOAbdul Hadi Awang KechilPASP031Kuala KraiN39Mengkebang26,843Muhammad Mat SulaimanMohd Shukri IshakPKRZubir Abu BakarPASN40Guchil27,785Hilmi Abdullah Zuber HasanUMNOHilmi AbdullahPASN41Manek Urai22,611Mohd Fauzi AbdullahSuzali Adlina SukriUMNOMohd Fauzi AbdullahPASN42Dabong15,255Ku Mohd Zaki Ku HussienAhmad Firdaus MohamadUMNOKu Mohd Zaki Ku HussinPASP032Gua MusangN43Nenggiri20,219 Ab Aziz YusoffBN (UMNO) Ab Aziz YusoffUMNOMohd Azizi Abu NaimBERSATUN44Paloh21,162 Amran ArifinBN (UMNO)Amran ArifinUMNOShaari Mat HussainBERSATUN45Galas29,638 Mohd Syahbuddin HashimBN (UMNO) Mohd Syahbuddin HashimUMNOMohd Tarmizi Abd RahmanPAS

Opinion polls Polling firm Dates conductedSample sizePH+BNPNOthLeadRefIlham Centre29 July – 8 August 20232,30413%65%22%PN +43%

Results

By parliamentary constituency PN won 13 out of 14 parliamentary constituency by average percentages. No.ConstituencyPakatan Harapan + Barisan NasionalPerikatan NasionalMember of Parliament30.27%69.73%26.56%73.10%39.56%60.13%28.62%69.06%33.61%66.39%25.54%74.46%26.39%73.25%29.26%70.74%23.62%76.38%29.55%70.45%31.85%67.75%34.00%66.00%26.35%73.65%P032Gua Musang50.37%49.63%

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 August, 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.

Notes

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