The Kelantan Umno liaison committee is awaiting instructions from party headquarters to activate its machinery in the run-up to the Galas state by-election following the death of its incumbent Che Hashim Sulaima yesterday.

Its secretary Noor Zahidi Omar said, however, the committee was in a state of preparedness to face the by-election.

"We have not held any discussion on the by-election as we are still awaiting the green light from headquarters," he told reporters after presenting prizes at a bowling friendly between Tumpat Puteri Umno and Kelantan media in Kota Bharu last night.

NONE Che Hashim ( left ), 46, died at the Al-Islam Medical Centre in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday after a long battle with colon cancer.

Che Hashim defeated Saufi Deraman of BN with a majority of 646 votes when he garnered 4,399 votes.

"We (BN) wrested the seat with a more than 1,000-vote majority in the 2004 general, only to lose it in the political tsunami in the 2008 general election.

"We will work hard to recapture it," he said.

Umno stronghold

azlan The state seat, which has 10,330 voters, consists of 65.4% Malay, 22.3% Chinese, 1.8% Indian and 10.5% others, mostly Orang Asli.

Galas, one of three state seats under the Gua Musang parliamentary constituency - long held by Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah - is considered a BN stronghold.

However, it fell to PAS in the 2008 general election with Chinese voters in Gua Musang town apparently swinging against Umno.

At 1,881 sq km, the Galas constitutuency is bigger than the state of Malacca.

Che Hashim laid to rest

Meanwhile, Che Hashim Sulaima was buried at the Kampung Kerinting Muslim Cemetery in Gua Musang at about 1am today.

The remains were taken to the Tengku Muhammad Faiz Petra Mosque for prayers led by Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat soon after arrival from Kuala Lumpur at midnight last night.

The body was later brought to the house of his first wife, Che Bongsu Yunus, 49, at the National Housing Department housing scheme at Kampung Kerinting for family members to pay their last respects.

State Assembly speaker Mohd Nassuruddin Daud said he would officially notify the Election Commission on the death of the assemblyman to declare the seat vacant.