KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 — Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz said he is not offended nor feeling dejected after he was trounced by incumbent Dr Izani Husin for the Pengkalan Chepa PAS division deputy chief post.

The PAS Youth Chief and son of the late party spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said winning or losing an election was just part of an exercise.

"[If I had] won, [I would be] happy, [but I have] lost [so I am] happier,” he told Sinar Online.

"Istiqamah, contesting is normal, [it is] just an exercise,” he added, using the Arabic term which means to "stay steadfast”.

Nik Abduh also told the news portal that it was a "norm”, when asked if the defeat meant the party’s grassroots had rejected him.

The Pasir Mas MP only received 37 votes for the post compared to Dr Izani, who bagged 209 votes. The division chief post was retained by Kelantan Deputy Mentri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah.

Nik Abduh had previously stated that he would not fight to keep his PAS Youth chief post, after a landslide victory in the party’s muktamar, or annual congress, in 2015.

PAS is currently holding elections for its divisions as the party gears up for the coming muktamar next month where a national-level election will be held.