KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia kicked start another by-election campaign on Saturday as the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition eyes a rebound from a previous electoral defeat.

The 6th by-election in Malaysia since the national polls last year will see a fight over the state-assembly seat in Semenyih, of the central Selangor state, the Malaysia's Election Commission said following the nomination on Saturday.

The main contest is expected to be between candidates from the Pakatan Harapan and the former ruling coalition Barisan Nasional(BN).

The by-election was called following the passing away of the previous PH assemblyman in January.

The campaigning period starts on Saturday and will end on March 1 with voters casting their ballots the following day.

The PH lost the by-election for the parliamentary seat of Cameron Highlands last month, the first electoral defeat after the general election, after failing to wrest the seat traditionally held by the BN.