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 coalition led by Parti Islam Se-Malaysia 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 – Pakatan Harapan 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.

Timeline

The key dates are listed below.
DateEvent
13 October 2022Perikatan Nasional decides not to dissolve the 14th Kelantan State Legislative Assembly.
22 June 2023Dissolution of the Kelatan State Legislative Assembly.
5 July 2023Issue of the Writ of Election
29 July 2023Nomination Day
29 July–11 August 2023Campaigning Period
8–11 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 Date confirmedFirst electedReason
N22MelorMd Yusnan Yusof30 April 20212013Died in office.
N9Kota LamaAnuar Tan Abdullah2 July 20231999Retired from politics.
N06ChempakaAhmad Fathan Mahmood27 July 20232015Dropped by party.
N10Bunut PayongRamli Mamat27 July 20232013Dropped by party.
N12Pengkalan PasirHanifa Ahmad27 July 20232008Dropped by party.
N15Gual PeriokMohamad Awang27 July 20232008Dropped by party.
N16Apam PutraAbdul Rasul Mohamed27 July 20232013Dropped by party.
N17SalorSaiful Adli Abu Bakar27 July 20232018Dropped by party.
N19DemitMumtaz Md. Nawi27 July 20232013Dropped by party
N20TawangHassan Mohamood27 July 20231995Dropped by party
N22JelawatAbdul Azziz Kadir27 July 20232008Dropped by party
N30LimbonganMohd Nazlan Mohamed Hasbullah27 July 20232013Dropped by party
N35KemuningMohd Roseli Ismail27 July 20232013Dropped by party
N39MengkebangMuhammad Mat Sulaiman27 July 20232018Dropped by party
N37Ayer LanasMustapa Mohamed2 November 20222004Retired from politics.
N25Kok LanasMd Alwi Che AhmadBN 27 April 20232008Retired from politics.
N27Gual IpohBakri MustaphaBN 21 July 20232013Dropped by party.
N38Kuala BalahAbd Aziz DerashidBN 21 July 20232004Dropped by party.

Electoral candidates

Names in bold are the confirmed winners in the 2023 state election.

Results

By parliamentary constituency

PN won 13 out of 14 parliamentary constituency by average percentages.
No.ConstituencyPakatan Harapan + Barisan NasionalPerikatan NasionalMember of Parliament
''30.27%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%

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.