1987 Bukit Tuku by-election

Zakaria Botok, from United Malays National Organization (UMNO), were elected to the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly newly created seat of Bukit Tuku at the 1986 Kelantan state election as a Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate, defeating Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) candidate Fatah Harun. Prior to that, he was the incumbent of Gual Periok state seat, which he won in the 1982 Kelantan state election.

On 31 March 1987, Zakaria died at General Hospital, Kota Bharu. He has been admitted to the hospital since August 1986 after being involved in an accident at Pasir Mas-Rantau Panjang highway, where he suffered serious injuries.^[3] His death means that Bukit Tuku state seat were vacated. This necessitates for by-election to be held, as the seat were vacated more that 2 years before the expiry of Kelantan assembly current term. Election Commission of Malaysia (SPR) have announced, after an injunction to prevent the by-election that had been filed by Fatah has been lifted, that the by-election for the seat will be held on 28 June 1987, with 16 June 1987 set as the nomination day.^[4]

After nomination closed, it was confirmed that there will be a 3-way fight between BN, PAS and independent candidate for the Bukit Tuku seat.^[5] BN nominated UMNO Rantau Panjang division youth chief Mohamad Zain Ismail, while PAS re-nominated Fatah as their candidate. A businessman, Noor Mohamad Din also handed his nomination papers as an independent candidate.

In their campaign, BN had claimed that PAS and independent candidates plan to use 'dirty tactics' to help them in the by-election.^[6]

The key dates are listed below.