YAN, Malaysia – Opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) retained its state seat in Kedah, winning the Sungai Limau by-election Tuesday (November 5th), local media reported.

Azam Abdul Samat defeated Barisan Nasional's Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim with 12,069 votes to 10,985. It is a smaller majority than the one PAS had in May's election that was won by Azizan Abdul Razak, who held the seat for five terms.

Azizan died in September from a heart attack, leaving the seat vacant.

The ruling Barisan Nasional party tried to wrest the seat away using the campaign slogan, "Dare to Migrate", according to the news site Malaysiakini.

Election Commission returning officer Abdul Rashid Othman said voter turnout dropped from 89% in May to 85.5%, fz.com reported.

"We will make sure we fulfil the mandate given to us by the voters and aid them in welfare issues. Thank you for giving us the trust to continue here," Azam said after winning the election.