The Chempaka by-election turned out to be a one-horse race with PAS candidate Ahmad Fathan Mahmood @ Mahamad winning by a whopping majority of more than 10,000 votes.

The other four candidates - all independent - lost their RM5,000 deposit as they were unable to secure at least 12.5 percent of the valid votes cast.

The full results:

Ahmad Fathan - 10,899 votes

Sharif Mahmood - 807

Fadzillah Hussin - 89

Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary - 51

Aslah Mamat - 27

Majority - 10,092

    

The Chempaka state seat, which became vacant following the death of PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat saw a five-cornered contest but without major rival Umno.

    

Umno has opted out of the by-election to instead focus on the flood relief after Kelantan was hit by the massive deluge three months ago.

Low voter turnout

The voter turnout was low, reaching only 55 percent of registered voters, while there were 140 spoilt votes.

At the 2013 general election, the late Nik Aziz garnered 12,310 votes to win the seat with a majority of 6,500 votes.

He defeated Umno's Wan Razman Wan Abdul Razak, who received 5,810 votes. The turnout in that contest was 85.9 percent.

According to Bernama , the results were announced by returning officer Ibrahim Bakri Mat Deris at Dewan Bitara Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM), Pengkalan Chepa at 9 pm.

Present when the results were announced were Kelantan Menteri Besar Ahmad Yaakob, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu and Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah.

Mohamad attributed the party's landslide victory to the absence of competition from Umno.

According to him, the victory also showed voters support PAS despite the absence Chempaka’s popular incumbent, Nik Aziz, who died on Feb 12.

"PAS is grateful for winning a bigger majority," he told reporters after the announcement of the results.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Fathan said he did not expect to win with such a large majority.

"All praise to God, pray that I will be able to do my best for the rakyat," he said.