BN’s decision to contest Johor polls solo not unusual, says Salleh

 The Sabah Umno treasurer and former chief minister says BN’s federal cooperation with PH is mainly because the political reality requires a governing majority.

Former Sabah chief minister Salleh Said Keruak said in Germany, for example, major parties often competed in elections and later formed coalition governments when no party won an outright majority. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Barisan Nasional’s (BN) decision to contest on its own in the coming Johor election is not unusual in coalition politics, Sabah Umno treasurer Salleh Said Keruak said today.

Rejecting the argument that BN’s decision was inconsistent with its federal cooperation with Pakatan Harapan, Salleh said the two coalitions were working together because the political reality required a governing majority.

“In Johor, however, BN believes it has sufficient strength to seek a mandate on its own without relying on PH,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Salleh, a former Sabah chief minister, noted that the state had seen a similar situation in the 2025 polls, when BN, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Warisan competed against each other.

“Following the election, BN chose to join the state government with GRS, while Warisan remained in the opposition. Ultimately, politics is shaped by electoral mandates and legislative numbers.

“Parties may compete during elections but work together afterwards if circumstances require it. The key objective is to ensure political stability and effective governance,” he said.

Salleh said similar situations could be found in many democracies, such as in Germany, where major parties often competed in elections before forming coalition governments when no party won an outright majority.

“In India, parties that cooperate at the national level sometimes contest against each other in state elections. In Australia, political strategies frequently differ between state and federal levels,” he said.

Johor BN chairman Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced the dissolution of the state legislative assembly yesterday.

Perikatan Nasional, BN and PH are expected to compete for all 56 seats in the Johor state election, which must be held within the next 60 days. BN will be defending 40 seats, PH 12, PN three and Muda one. - FMT