Barisan Nasional (BN) has named Umno Pasir Mas deputy divisional chief Hanafi Mamat as its candidate for the Dec 6 Pengkalan Pasir state by-election in Kelantan.

According to Bernama , the announcement, made by Umno Kelantan chief Annuar Musa, was greeted with cheers by about 3,000 BN supporters gathered at Sekolah Menengah Perempuan Pasir Mas last night.

Hanafi, 51, lost to Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Jaafar of PAS in the general election last year by 56 votes, polling 7,112 votes to 7,168 by his opponent.

The by-election is held following the death of Wan Abdul Aziz, 55, from liver cancer on Oct 31.

Besides BN and PAS, former Umno strongman in the constituency, Ibrahim Ali, is also expected to contest the seat as an independent candidate.

Pengkalan Pasir is seen as crucial to PAS and BN which now control 23 and 21 seats respectively in the 45-seat state assembly.

A win by BN would reduce the PAS majority in the assembly to one seat, a situation that could force the state government to call a snap election.

Hanafi, a local-born and father of six, became active in politics in 1979 while studying at the University of East London and served on the committee of the London Umno Club.

He graduated with a degree in land surveying and later obtained his masters in the same field from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). He is now studying for his PhD in UTM.

Meanwhile, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang is expected to announce the party's candidate tonight at the Pasir Mas Mini stadium.

Among the names mentioned as the potential candidate are the special officer to the deputy menteri besar, Che Samsudin Mohamed Noor, and Kelantan Economic Development Corporation chief executive Hanifa Ahmad.

Great task

Meanwhile, Hanafi said he now has a great task ahead of him but is confident of securing a victory.

"I am sure the support and the solid BN machinery will help the coalition wrest the seat away from PAS," he added.

Hanafi said the support he received from Umno members, including those at the grassroots level, had encouraged him to contest for the constituency again.

"The first thing I would do if elected would be to resolve all the outstanding problems faced by the people there.

"I want to see a more uniformed development in Bandar Pasir Mas which will be free of problems such as floods. I hope the people will give the mandate to BN to realise this aim.