Kelantan Umno today appointed newly-elected Pengkalan Kubor assemblyperson Mat Razi Mat Ail as the icon for elected representatives in the state.

Kelantan Umno liaison chairperson Mustapa Mohamed said the appointment was made based on the big majority of 2,635 votes obtained by Mat Razi in the by-election last Thursday.

"We want to build Umno's strength and this victory is most encouraging.

"We will turn this victory into a motivation for us to win and administer Kelantan," he told reporters after chairing the meeting of the Barisan Nasional (BN) by-election machinery in Tumpat today.

Mustapa ( left ), who is also the Kelantan BN chairperson, said he would guide Mat Razi to ensure that he was always accepted and liked by the people.

Meanwhile, Mat Razi said although the appointment was a big challenge for him, he would do his level best to ensure that BN could recapture Kelantan from PAS in the 14th general election.

Mat Razi defended the BN seat by obtaining a majority of 2,635 votes, an increase of 899 votes compared with the majority of 1,736 votes obtained by the late Noor Zahidi Omar in the 13th general election.

He received 9,961 votes, defeating PAS candidate Wan Rosdi Wan Ibrahim (7,326 votes) and Independent Izat Bukhary Ismail who lost his deposit when he only polled 38 votes.

- Bernama