The Nenggiri state seat in Kelantan has been declared vacant after its incumbent Mat Yusoff Abdul Ghani became a bankrupt.

According to news reports, this was announced by the Kelantan state assembly speaker Abdullah Yakub this afternoon.

Harian Metro quoted Abdullah as saying his office received a letter last Wednesday informing him that the Umno assemblyperson had been declared bankrupt by the Selangor Insolvency Department.

“The date for the declaration of bankruptcy was Nov 9 last year,” he added.

Abdullah said Article 31(1) of the state constitution barred a person who has not resolved his bankruptcy status from being an assemblyperson.

“Starting today, I declare the Nengirri seat vacant. I will send a letter to the state Election Commission (EC) on Sunday,” he added.

Quizzed on the possibility of a by-election, the speaker said that would depend on the EC.

Mat Yusoff, from Umno, won the Nenggiri seat with 2,805 vote-majority in the last general election after defeating PKR's Mohamad Azihan Che Seman.

The seat falls under the Gua Musang parliamentary constituency.