PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail hoped this would spur PKR activists, members and leaders to work harder to ensure the victory of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate.

“Let the Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan be the favourite as he is the former menteri besar of Negeri Sembilan and he obviously has the advantage.

“Nonetheless, we are very optimistic and confident of putting up a tough fight.

“It would not be a surprise if PH is able to shock Mohamad Hasan,” he told reporters here today.

Saifuddin, who is acting PKR election director, was commenting on speculation that the PH candidate Dr S Streram is facing an uphill task in the by-election.

He said he had proposed that the PH election committee meet soon, chaired by PH deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin, to discuss strategies.

“In the meeting, I will announce preparations for the Rantau by-election. I have also met the PH machinery in Rantau and they are all prepared and raring to go.

“All 14 voting districts have set up their respective voting centres and have identified the weak and strong areas. We hope we can maintain the existing support and increase the voter turnout during the campaign period,” he said.

The Rantau by-election is being held after the Federal Court, on Feb 18, rejected a petition filed by Mohamad, who is also Umno acting president, to set aside the Nov 16 decision of the Seremban Special Election Court to declare his victory in the Rantau state seat as null and void.