TEMERLOH, March 6 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) should register as a coalition to help the Election Commission (EC) conduct elections more smoothly, EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said today, referring to complaints that the component parties could display their respective logos in past elections.

He said PKR, DAP and PAS have repeatedly flouted election laws which state that only contesting parties can legally display flags and logos as well as set up command centres.

PR is a coalition with no official status with the Registrar of Societies (RoS). It has applied to form a coalition but has yet to get approval.

“It’s easy to solve the problem — register,” Wan Ahmad told reporters here at the Dewan Tun Razak tallying centre.

“They might as well register if they’re really united and committed to being allies.”

Failure to do so will lead to greater complications in the next general election where many more seats will be contested simultaneously, Wan Ahmad explained.

PR was told by the EC not to display any party logos or flags other than those of PAS during the Kerdau and Merlimau by-elections as the coalition was not a recognised entity.

However, PKR and DAP flags were seen in both state constituencies during the campaign period despite the order.

Wan Ahmad stressed that he was not trying to “teach” PR parties as it was their right not to register.

But he pointed out that by breaking the law, the opposition made life difficult for the EC and police, who are tasked to ensure polls take place without a hitch.

Polling for Merlimau and Kerdau ended at 5pm.

Results for both by-elections are expected to be announced by 8pm.