The Chempaka by-election in Kelantan will see a five-cornered fight, with four independents entering the fray to challenge PAS in its stronghold.

The Islamist party is fielding the imam of the Baung mosque, Ahmad Fathan Muhammad @ Mahmood, in the seat that fell vacant with the death of PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat on Feb 12.

Fathan’s challengers include Kelantan Perkasa vice-chairperson Sharif Mahmood, 59, Umno member Fadzillah Hussin, 55, and businessperson Aslah Mamat, 64.

Also in the mix is Izat Bukhari Ismail Bukhary, 48, who contested as an independent for the Pengkalan Kubor state seat in the 13th general election, and in the subsequent by-election.

BN is sitting this by-election out, to focus on flood recovery efforts in Kelantan.
 
The presence of Umno and Perkasa candidates however could translate into a BN friendly candidate in the state assembly.
 
Persistent talks of a PAS-Umno unity government could mean a paradigm shift of politics in Kelantan, and Malaysia as a whole.
 
During GE13, Nik Abdul Aziz secured 12,310 votes, defeating BN's Wan Razman Wan Abdul Razak with a 6,500 vote majority.
 
The Chempaka state constituency has 21,890 registered voters.