BN has named former Tumpat Education Department deputy director Mat Razi Mat Ail, 49, as candidate for the Pengkalan Kubor by-election.

According to Bernama , the announcement was made by BN deputy chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin.

"He is a local of Pengkalan Kubor and has a BA (Hons) degree specialising in Bahasa Melayu and History.

"Ustaz Mat Razi ( left ) is also the founder of a pondok (religious school) in Tumpat and we feel he is close to the people," Muhyiddin is reported as telling more than 5,000 people at BN's Pengkalan Kubor by-election perations centre.

The by-election will be held on Sept 25, with a campaign period of 12-days.

PAS is expected to announce its candidate tomorrow .

The by-election is to fill the vacancy caused by the death of incumbent Noor Zahidi Omar, who died of cancer on Aug 20.

The constituency in Kelantan was contested between PKR and Umno in the 2008 and 2013 general elections.

However, PKR decided to make way for its ally PAS to contest the by-election. The Islamist party last contested in the constituency in 2004.