The Kelantan state assembly sitting, scheduled for Nov 1-7, will not convene on Nov 4, as the date has been set as polling day for the Galas state by-election.

Kelantan state assembly speaker Mohd Nasuruddin Daud said although the speaker had the authority to postpone the sitting, he would not do so as the date was gazetted, according to the assembly's standing orders.

"We will continue with the sitting... we only decided not to convene the sitting for one day, that is on the polling day for the Galas state by-election, to enable every state assemblyperson to focus on the by-election," he told Bernama today.

Nevertheless, he expressed disappointment over the Election Commission's decision in fixing the polling date for the by-election, without taking into consideration the date for the state assembly sitting which was set earlier by the state government.

The nomination day for the by-election is Oct 26, while polling is on Nov 4.

The Galas state seat fell vacant after its incumbent, Chek Hashim Sulaima, 46, of PAS, died of cancer on Sept 27.

- Bernama