The Kelantan government has declared Sept 25, which is polling day for the Pengkalan Kubor by-election, a public holiday for the state.

Kelantan Menteri Besar Ahmad Yakob said that this is as it would otherwise be difficult for voters to fulfill their obligations as Sept 25 is a Thursday.

"Voting on a work day is difficult for the rakyat and the federal government should have realised this," he said in a statement.

Ahmad, who is also PAS’ Pasir Pekan assemblyperson, also expressed hope that the polling process goes smoothly "without elements of vote manipulation".

PAS candidate Wan Rosdi Wan Ibrahim is going up against BN’s Mat Razi Mat Ali and Independent Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukary.

The seat fell vacant upon the death of BN’s Noor Zahidi Omar who won the seat in the 2004, 2008 and 2013 general elections.