Biggest winners and losers in the Johor polls

 The state election elevates the image of BN and its chairman, as all parties regroup for the Negeri Sembilan polls two weeks from now.

BN’s commanding victory in Johor gives the Umno-led coalition a bounce in its step as it prepares to go solo in the coming elections, including the Aug 1 Negeri Sembilan polls.

PETALING JAYA:

The dust has settled following the 16th Johor state election, in which Barisan Nasional stormed to a commanding victory in 48 seats while Pakatan Harapan took the remaining eight.

Among the biggest winners are BN and its Johor chief, Onn Hafiz Ghazi, the face of the BN campaign who was sworn in for a second term as menteri besar after leading the party to victory in 48 seats.

The heaviest losses were suffered by Perikatan Nasional, wiped out at the state assembly, after the relationship between coalition partners PAS and Bersatu crumbled, while Pakatan Harapan was left to lick its wounds after DAP lost several strongholds to BN.

Winner – BN

BN reinforced its grip on Johor after nearly 10 years since losing control of the state government to PH in 2018. Two years later, it recouped most of its losses by winning 40 seats, and went on to expand its supermajority to 48 seats on Saturday in a hint of the dominance it used to exert before falling out of power.

MCA and MIC, in particular, emerged as big winners with a greater haul of seats and decisive victories in key non-Malay battlegrounds, wresting a total of four seats from DAP.

BN’s commanding victory in Johor gives the Umno-led coalition a bounce in its step as it prepares to go solo in coming elections, including the Negeri Sembilan polls on Aug 1.

Loser – PH/Anwar

The results in Johor mark dismal back-to-back electoral performances for PH, following a near wipeout in the Sabah state election last November. While the strength of PKR and Amanah in Johor has always been questionable, the loss of DAP’s four urban strongholds to BN would send shockwaves through the party.

PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim made multiple trips to Johor in an attempt to shore up the coalition’s campaign, but this drew taunts from rivals who questioned the need for the prime minister to make so many appearances.

With nominations for the Negeri Sembilan polls taking place this Saturday, the coalition is hard-pressed for time to choose the right candidates and perhaps even overhaul its strategies to avoid suffering more losses in a state PH has held since 2018.

Winner – Zahid

BN’s massive win undoubtedly elevates the image of its chairman, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who vowed to foster closer ties between the Johor and federal governments after barbs were traded on the campaign trail.

The victory also comes off the back of Zahid’s “Rumah Bangsa” initiative launched in January, which provided an avenue for former and suspended Umno members to formally return, particularly popular figures like Khairy Jamaluddin and Hishammuddin Hussein.

With Negeri Sembilan up next and BN-led Melaka also expected to hold its state polls this year, Zahid will look to garner more momentum ahead of the next general election (GE16), where he is set to play an even bigger role leading the charge.

Loser – Amirudin

Amirudin Shari led the charge for PH in Johor, marking his first major task since replacing PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar as the party’s election director alongside Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

His efforts failed to help PH or PKR increase their share of seats, as the coalition’s fewer victories of eight seats also came with slimmer majorities compared with 2022.

Amirudin, a two-term Selangor menteri besar, will hope that he fares better when elections are held in his state by November 2028 at the latest.

PAS a winner?

Despite PN’s wipeout, the outcome in Johor somewhat reinforces PAS’s stand that unity among Malay-Muslim parties would ensure a commanding victory, even in more multiracial states like Johor.

PAS contested only 11 seats, and was accused of having a tacit pact with Umno for the Johor election, while a Bersatu source claimed that the two parties were discussing another political understanding in Negeri Sembilan.

As PAS moves on from Bersatu and forges close ties with opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin and his new party, Parti Wawasan Negara, observers will be keenly watching the Islamic party’s strategy when it comes to working with Umno in future elections, especially GE16. - FMT