THE use of Pakatan Harapan’s common logo in future elections still needs approval from the Election Commission (EC), PH leader Saifuddin Nasution said.

The PKR secretary-general said this applied to the use of either the arrowhead or the word “harapan” (hope) to symbolise the coalition.

“We discussed this at the PH presidential council meeting. The party wants to use the common logo in the coming Balakong and Seri Setia by-elections.

“We want to try using a common PH logo – either the arrow or the word ‘harapan’.

“But we must first settle some matters. The Registrar of Societies have approved PH’s registration as a coalition. Now we need to get the common logo approved by the EC,” he told reporters in Penang today.

Yesterday, PKR vice-president Xavier Jayakumar said the PKR “eye” logo would be used for the last time in the Sungai Kandis by-election today, as PH would contest all future elections with a common logo.

In the 14th general election, PH, which previously had problems with RoS, had to use the PKR logo.

All candidates, whether they came from PKR, DAP, Bersatu, or Amanah, were listed as PKR candidates.

“We will finalise the matter and make the announcement as soon as possible,” said Saifuddin, who is also domestic trade and consumers affairs minister.

He also expressed hopes for the EC to schedule both the Balakong and Seri Setia by-elections to be held concurrently.

Balakong representative Eddie Ng from DAP died in an accident last month, while PKR’s Seri Setia representative Shaharuddin Badaruddin died of colon cancer earlier this week.

While PH is set to meet Barisan Nasional’s MCA in Balakong, PH will face Islamist party PAS in Seri Setia.

BN linchpin party Umno had announced that it was leaving it to PAS to contest the seat in Selangor.

PAS is sitting out the Sungai Kandis by-election and has been campaigning against PH, telling voters not to vote for the ruling party.

Asked what he thought of Umno making way for PAS in Seri Setia, Saifuddin said he welcomed the openness of both parties in their cooperation.

He said this development would also show the people which parties were together, and aid their decision-making.

“I think it is good. They have given clarity to the relationship they want to build. There are no more riddles, shyness, and embarrassment.

“I encourage them to continue this relationship. The best thing that comes from this is we are moving towards a two-party system.

“Each of them have their own strengths. If they work together, they will be a good opposition. PH needs a good opposition bloc for checks and balances,” he said. – August 4, 2018.