The opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) has gained victory in a by-election which closed on July 14 in Malaysia’s northern state of Kelatan.

The PAS overtook the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) by only 65 votes, much lower than the 1,352-vote lead PAS had enjoyed during the general election last year.

The result assures that PAS can maintain a seat in the legislature of Kelantan state and it will also be a further boost for the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Najib Razak.

The opposition has now won six out of seven by-elections held since last year's unprecedented national election, when, for the first time, it took control of five states and a third of the seats in parliament./.