KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Former deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was declared on Friday as the candidate of a by-election for a parliamentary seat.

The 71-year-old Anwar would contest the seat in the lower house of parliament for Port Dickson, a coastal town, as the candidate of his People's Justice Party (PKR) and the ruling coalition of Pakatan Harapan.

The seat was vacant following the resignation of the parliamentarian to trigger a by-election to allow Anwar to return to the parliament.

Becoming a member of parliament will pave to way for Anwar to succeed the 93-year-old Mahathir Mohamad to become Malaysia's prime minister, as part of the agreement that led the Pakatan Harapan coalition to a historic victory in the general election in May.

Anwar, who was granted a royal pardon on his sodomy conviction after the election, has won the presidency of his PKR party unchallenged.

The Election Commission said the by-election would be held on Oct 13.