Pakatan Harapan will optimise the 21-day campaign period for the Seri Setia and Balakong state by-elections to introduce to voters its new official logo.

"This is the first time the new PH logo is used in a by-election and I believe it will be accepted by voters in Seri Setia and Balakong, said Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail after accompanying PH candidate for the Seri Setia seat, Halimey Abu Bakarto the nomination centre at  Dewan Sivik of the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) here today.

She said this when asked on the focus by PH in its 21-day campaign for the Seri Setia and Balakong state seats.

PH has been approved as a four-party coalition, comprising PKR, DAP, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), by the Registrar of Societies (RoS) last May.

Wan Azizah urged voters in both constituencies to come out in full force to exercise their right on polling day on Sept 8.

"If our (PH) candidates are elected, since the federal government is under PH, it will be easier for us to channel services for voters in Seri Setia and Balakong,” she said.

When nomination closed at 10 am, only two candidates from each constituency submitted their nomination papers, hence a straight fight in both by-elections.

For the Seri Setia state seat, it will be a contest between PH candidate Halimey Abu Bakar and PAS’ Dr Halimah Ali, while PH’s Wong Siew Ki and MCA’s Tan Chee Teong will be in a tussle for the Balakong state seat.

The Seri Setia by-election was called following the death of its incumbent assemblyman Prof Dr Shaharuddin Badaruddin last Aug 2 due to colon cancer, while the Balakong state seat fell vacant following the death of its incumbent assemblyman Eddie Ng Tien Chee in a road accident last July 20.

Both the by-elections will be held simultaneously with polling on Sept 8.

- Bernama