Ariff Aizuddin Azlan of Universiti Teknologi Mara said most voters in the area were expected to prioritise parties that promote an Islamic and Malay image.

“Therefore, I do not think that offers of projects or development politics will attract voters. The Islamic-Malay narrative is more centred on PAS and Bersatu,” he told FMT.

“The government component party (Barisan Nasional) will need to convince Nenggiri voters that they also champion Islam and the Malay cause if they want to capture the Nenggiri seat, rather than focusing too much on general development projects.”

Meanwhile, Azmil Tayeb of Universiti Sains Malaysia said offers of projects ahead of elections would only have an impact if candidates were contesting parliamentary seats and likely to be appointed as ministers.

“Project announcements can benefit voters if the elected candidate has access to central government resources, for example as an MP and minister,” he said.

“Otherwise, it is difficult to secure projects, especially as the opposition in a state that is not wealthy like Kelantan.”

Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also BN chairman, announced the construction of a technical and vocational education and training institution in Gua Musang on Tuesday, ahead of nominations for the by-election this Saturday.

The Nenggiri state constituency is located within the parliamentary constituency of Gua Musang.

The seat was declared vacant by the state assembly speaker following a notice from Bersatu that Azizi Abu Naim, its incumbent, had ceased to be a member of the party.

Azizi, who is also the Gua Musang MP, had won the seat with an 810-vote majority in a straight fight with Umno’s Ab Aziz Yusoff, the former Nenggiri assemblyman.

BN has announced Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani as its candidate this time while Perikatan Nasional has named Rizwadi Ismail.