Pakatan Harapan’s, Wong Siew Ki celebrates her victory at the Balakong by-election at Pejabat Tanah dan Daerah Hulu Langat, Bangi September 8, 2018. ― Picture by Shafwan Zaidon

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 ― The Election Commission (EC) has officially declared Pakatan Harapan the winner for both the Balakong and Seri Setia by-elections.

DAP candidate Wong Siew Ki won the Balakong by-election with a 18,533 vote-majority of 22,508, defeating MCA’s Tan Chee Teong who received 3,975 votes.

Only 227 votes were rejected.

The polls closed today with a 43 per cent voter turnout, the lowest turnout since the 2009 Penanti state seat by-election which recorded a 46 per cent turnout.

However, due to low voter turnout, Wong received a lower majority compared to her predecessor the late Eddie Ng Tien Chee.

In the May elections, Ng garnered 41,768 votes with a majority of 35,538 votes in a three corner fight between PAS Mohamad Ibrahim Ghazali (6,230) and MCA Lim Chin Wah (5,874).

The Balakong by-election was called after Ng passed away when the car he was driving crashed into the rear of a lorry at KM11.6 of the Grand Saga Highway on July 20.

Pakatan Harapan’s Seri Setia by-election candidate Halimey Abu Bakar (centre) celebrates after winning the Seri Setia by-election in Petaling Jaya, September 9, 2018. ― Picture by Azneal Ishak

In Seri Setia, Pakatan Harapan’s Halimey Abu Bakar managed to retain the seat, winning a 4,027-vote majority over his contender from the Islamist party Dr Halimah Ali.

This was announced by Election Commission returning officer Datuk Mohd Azizi Mohd Zain at 8.55pm at Dewan Sivik MBPJ here today.

“Halimey from Pakatan Harapan scored 13,725 votes, while Dr Halimah scored 9,698 votes. Pakatan wins with a 4,027 majority.

“Therefore, I announce that Halimey is the new assemblyman for Seri Setia,” he said.

Mohd Azizi also announced that there were 164 rejected votes from the total 23,423 votes.

The announcement was met with cheers from his supporters here.

In Balakong, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said that PH’s win shows that Malaysians are still confident of the coalition.

“This big victory shows that the people want to unite under PH which represent all races and religion. This also shows that people reject raced based parties and extreme racial sentiments.

Lim also attributed the win to Ng’s commendable work and cited that local constituencies “still feel a sense of gratitude” and had shown their respects through the ballot box.

Wong also promised to work diligently and pledge to make her voters proud.

“Not only will I continue the great work of the late Eddie Ng, but I will work hard in the next 4 to 5 years to make the people here proud of me as their assemblymen,’’ she said.

In Seri Setia, Halimey’s mother Khalijah Md Yusuf said she will finally be able to get some shut-eye after having sleepless nights prior to the election.

“Thank god the voters picked my son. My prayers have been answered. Of course I’m happy to see my son’s success,” she told reporters.

His wife Suhati Bakri sees the victory as a reward for his husband who has been servicing the public as a city councillor for nearly 10 years.

“When I was working for a law firm I had to juggle between that and managing our three children because my husband is always out for his political events.

“This is sweet success. Hopefully he will do the people justice.