PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang still played his role as the party’s top leader in the Seri Setia by-election last night, even though his involvement was not publicly seen.

The party’s candidate for Seri Setia, Dr Halimah Ali, said Hadi's support was felt in spirit.

“He (Hadi) was the one who announced and he was the one who endorsed (my candidacy).

"Maybe physically (he was not seen), but definitely every day he helped by giving instructions to improve the campaign, the entire central leadership also came down,” she said in a press conference in Shah Alam today.

Halimah was responding to questions on Hadi's absence, and that of other PAS leaders during the by-election campaign.

Yesterday, Halimah lost to the Pakatan Harapan candidate Halimey Abu Bakar. She garnered 9,689 votes to his 13,725 votes.

Halimah was also asked about former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s absence from the campaign, to which she said it was the decision of Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The former Selangor exco said yesterday that she was touched by the support and help given by Umno in the run-up to the by-election.

She said Umno may have been used to working with the government machinery at one point, but that is no longer the case.

“Now they see with their own eyes with PAS, where we do not have any other source (of money) aside from that which comes from the pockets of PAS members ourselves.

“And I am also touched by all the youths and women in their red (Umno) tudung who were here with us under the rain until 5.30pm."