PETALING JAYA, April 14 — The choice of PKR's logo for all Pakatan Harapan parties in the general election will benefit the pact as it was the best recognised symbol with the least political baggage, according to Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.

The PH secretariat chief rejected concerns the unprecedented move would confuse voters, particularly DAP supporters, as component parties were already reaching out to voters and explaining the rationale of the move.

"PKR is a party that is, in essence, multiracial, so it makes sense to use the logo. The fact that we have collectively decided on the PKR symbol, it will make our (election) campaign work,” he told Malay Mail when met at Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia's (PPBM) headquarters here.

"Malay voters would feel less comfortable voting if we used DAP's logo, but they don't mind voting PKR.”

DAP could have some issues with rural voters, he said, but not with its core support base in urban seats.

The decision to use a common logo was to further the pursuit of a two-party system, according to Saifuddin.

While this was technically already the case, with the major opposition parties banding under the PH umbrella, it would not seem so outwardly if all its members contested separately as was the case in the 13th general election, he explained.

The unification could also give greater credence if PH parties win the popular vote again; rivals previously downplayed the significance of this by saying it was achieved simply by tallying up votes won by parties with no official links.

"If we managed to get the popular vote in GE13 with different, confusing logos, surely we can do better this time around with a unified, single logo,” Saifuddin said.

Last week, PH chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad confirmed that all PH parties would use PKR’s logo for the 14th general election.

The announcement had essentially been preempted by the DAP that said earlier in the week that it was resting its "rocket” for the polls, the first time it has ever done so.

In February, Dr Mahathir said all PH pact’s parties will employ a common logo for the polls even if the Registrar of Societies (RoS) does not recognise the coalition in time for its symbol to be usable.

This is no longer possible as the RoS has since provisionally deregistered Dr Mahathir’s PPBM over alleged failures to provide required documentation.