KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition lost a closely contested by-election on Saturday.

PH failed to retain the state-assembly seat of Semenyih in the state of Selangor from former ruling coalition and now opposition Barisan Nasional (BN).

According to the Election Commission, BN took the seat with a majority of about 2,000 votes, after having lost it to PH by a majority of nearly 9,000 votes in the general elections in May last year.

The by-election was called following the passing away of a previous assemblyman from PH in January and was the sixth by-election since the general elections.

The latest electoral setback came after PH lost the by-election for the parliamentary seat of Cameron Highlands in January after failing to wrest the seat traditionally held by BN.