KULAI, Aug 19 — Johor Perikatan Nasional (PN) expressed confidence that the coalition could maintain the success from the six elections held last week for the upcoming Pulai federal and Simpang Jeram state by-elections next month.

Chairman Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal said Johor PN was optimistic that there will be a wave of support for the coalition based on the people’s growing discontent with the ruling leadership.

However, he insisted this was not because of the "green wave” of religious conservatism.

"In fact, the ‘green wave’ term is coined by our political rivals as a way to put fear into the non-Malays.

"I believe Johor residents, especially those in Pulai and Simpang Jeram, can judge for themselves who they will vote for in the upcoming by-elections,” said Dr Sahruddin during a press conference after chairing a Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) meeting at the Johor PN office in Senai here today.

He was giving updates on Johor PN’s preparations in facing the by-elections.

Also present were Bersatu, PAS and Gerakan leaders

Dr Sahruddin, who is also the Johor Bersatu chairman, said the PN’s candidates for the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections will be announced by the coalition’s chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin by next week.

"We will focus to be a bigger Opposition force to bring a balance to the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional ruling coalition,” he said.

Earlier, PH through Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) named former Johor Speaker Suhaizan Kaiat and its Bakri division deputy chief Nazri Abdul Rahman as its candidates for the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections, respectively.

The Election Commission has fixed nomination day for both by-elections for August 26 and polling for September 9, while early voting on September 5.

The two by-elections were called after Datuk Seri Salahuddin, Ayub, who was the incumbent for both seats, died on July 23 due to a brain haemorrhage. He was 61.

Salahuddin was Amanah deputy president and the domestic trade and cost of living minister.