PAKATAN Harapan has retained the Seri Setia state seat after picking up 12,525 votes, according to unofficial results.

As of 7.30pm, Halimey Abu Bakar has 58.7% of the vote while PAS’ Dr Halimah Ali has 41.3%. At this point, Halimey is ahead with a 3,721-vote majority.

Victory appears certain for Halimey, with 21,329 of the expected 23,500 votes counted. The Election Commission said earlier that turnout was around 44% of the 53,492 voters in Seri Setia. 

Unofficial results show PH has won in 10 and PAS, in two of the 21 polling stations.

The results are tabulated by Institute Darul Ehsan.

Until today, Sg Kandis held the record for the lowest voter turnout in a by-election at 47%.

Barisan Nasional has stepped aside to pave the way for PAS to take on PH in a straight fight.

BN and PAS are watching to see whether their respective supporters are open to voting for the other party, as leaders of both parties have indicated interest in entering a pact for cooperation in the next general election.

In Seri Setia in May, PKR’s Dr Shaharuddin Badaruddin won 29,250 votes to defeat Barisan Nasional’s Yusoff M Haniff (9,878) and PAS’ Mohd Ghazali Daud (4,563) by a majority of 19,372. Independent S Vigneswaran LM Sanasee garnered 217 votes.

Shaharuddin died of cancer on August 2 to trigger a by-election. – September 8, 2018.