When the news broke that Kelantan Mentri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat had suffered a heart attack , some mischievous voices in the state suggested that there would be a by-election for the Cempaka state seat, which he holds. They thought Nik Aziz would have to step down for health reasons.

As it turned out, something else happened. Instead of Cempaka, which had been targeted, it was the Kuala Berang state seat in Terengganu which fell vacant when assembly representative Komaruddin Abdul Rahman died suddenly of a heart attack.

The focus thus shifted from Cempaka to Kuala Berang. The by-election there will be the first in Peninsular Malaysia since the general election concluded in March. It is expected to draw the attention of all Malaysians even though it is to be held in Terengganu, as it is a region that will be hotly contested by Umno and PAS.

Umno will surely want to defend the seat while PAS will seek to redeem its pride and dispel disappointment over its dismal performance in the general election. Prior to Komaruddin's death, the distribution of state seats in Terengganu had been 28-4 in favour of Barisan Nasional (BN).

Even though the Election Commission has not finalised the dates for nomination of candidates and for the polls, both parties appear to have cranked up their election machinery. Preparations have been made, campaigning has begun.