KOTA BAHARU, Feb 26 — Kelantan PAS today thanked the Barisan Nasional (BN) for not contesting the upcoming Chempaka by-election.

Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob, who is also Kelantan PAS Commissioner, said Kelantan PAS appreciated the announcement by Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak that the BN would be skipping the by-election so that the BN could concentrate on post-flood relief work and strenthen solidarity of the “ummah” (people) in the state.

“This decision is the right one because the post-flood situation in Kelantan requires concerted rehabilitation work especially in building permanent homes an repairing damaged houses for the flood victims.

“The announcement is also a mark of respect for the late Tok Guru (Datuk) Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (the incumbent) who was deeply respected by friend and foe,” he said in a statement here today.

Najib, who is also Umno president, when making the announcement about the BN not contesting the state after chairing a meeting of Umno’s Supreme Council in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, had said the Kelantan Umno liason committee and the Pengkalan Chepa Umno divisions had given their blessings on the move.

The seat was vacated following the death of incumbent, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat of prostate cancer on Feb 12.

In the 13th general election, Nik Abdul Aziz, who was PAS’s Spiritual leader, won the seat with a majority of 6,500 votes.

The former Kelantan Mentri Besar received 12,310 votes while BN candidate, Wan Razman Wan Abd Razak garnered 5,810 votes.

Nomination is on March 10 and polling on March 22. — Bernama