Umno Youth, Amanah butt heads over Malacca, Johor seats

 

Tensions are rising between Umno Youth and Amanah, as the latter seeks a more equitable share of seats to contest in the next Malacca and Johor state elections instead of using the Madani coalition’s “incumbency” formula.

Earlier today, Amanah communications director Khalid Abdul Samad suggested that if BN and Pakatan Harapan were to contest under the unity government in Malacca and Johor, thorough consideration over seat allocations and negotiations must be taken into account to ensure fairness and equity.

Highlighting that most assembly seats in both states were controlled by their BN incumbents, Khalid emphasised that prioritising incumbent candidates would no longer be appropriate, as it could jeopardise equity within the coalition, especially among Harapan components.

“If we continue to use the incumbency policy, it is clearly unfair. We hope Umno and BN will be open to handing over some of the seats they hold to partners within the government,” he was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian.

BN had won supermajorities in both states during snap elections in 2021 and 2022, buoyed by low turnout rates.

However, the coalition was less successful during the 15th general election, winning no parliamentary seats in Malacca, while Harapan and Perikatan Nasional won three each.

In Johor, Harapan and then ally Muda won 14 seats, PN two, while BN won nine parliamentary seats.

Meanwhile, Malacca’s legislature will automatically dissolve in December, with polls due by February. There is speculation that a general election will be called then to re-sync federal elections with those of the peninsula states.

Khalid also said that if an agreement cannot be reached, Amanah would not rule out the possibility of testing public support through three-cornered fights, just like how BN and Harapan contested against each other in the November 2025 Sabah state elections.

Likewise, Johor Amanah chief Aminolhuda Hassan was today quoted by Free Malaysia Today, suggesting that a “free-for-all” approach in the next state election would resolve the electoral cooperation deadlock with Johor BN.

Umno Youth throws down gauntlet

Responding to Khalid, Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh - who is Merlimau assemblyperson in Malacca - suggested that the two parties should just clash.

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh

“There’s no need to pretend (acah-acah) to give us warnings. Who do you think we are? Let’s just fight, enough talking,” Akmal said in a brief Facebook post today.

Meanwhile, in response to Aminolhuda, Johor Umno Youth chief Noor Azleen Ambros also challenged the Sri Gading MP to name Amanah’s Johor menteri besar candidate if the party intends to challenge its government ally.

“We are more than ready to face any possibility in the Johor state election.

“Any political coalition cooperation is welcome, but if we have to go solo, Johor Umno and BN are more than ready,” he was quoted as saying.

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Longstanding tensions

Previously, Johor Amanah had, on multiple occasions since the last state election in 2022, staked claims or declared readiness to contest in the 40 seats currently held by BN.

The state assembly has 56 seats, and its term is set to end by April 2027.

During Amanah’s annual convention in November last year, Fadhli Umar, Aminolhuda’s son, had again touted the state chapter’s readiness to face BN in the next Johor election.

Fadhli Umar Aminolhuda

Fadhli claimed that Johor Amanah has already rallied the full force of its machinery to contest “in all state seats”, and that they were prepared to contest separately “if BN continues to act arrogantly.”

In October, Johor Umno had also accused Amanah of being more interested in “chasing seats” than serving voters, following remarks by the party’s state deputy chairperson, Dzulkefly Ahmad, in rejecting negotiations with BN.

Johor Umno information chief Israk Abdullah at the time said nothing was stopping Dzulkefly or Johor Amanah from contesting in any seat they wished - even against BN - if they were confident of their strength in the state.

On Oct 15, Dzulkefly also said that Johor Amanah believed negotiations on seat allocations between Harapan and BN in Johor were irrelevant, as the federal-level “unity” government does not exist at the state level. - Mkini