No blue wave at walkabouts, yet plenty in ballot boxes

 The biggest election conversations in Johor's coffee shops were not about rallies, but e-invoicing, TAR UMT, PAS and the state government's delivery for all communities.

There was no blue wave at MCA and MIC walkabouts.

Even in Chinese- and Indian-majority areas, there were no overwhelming crowds following candidates and no obvious signs that the two Barisan Nasional component parties were poised to make significant gains in Johor Bahru and its surrounding areas.

In fact, after spending more than two weeks on the campaign trail, it became clear that the real conversations shaping the election were not necessarily happening at ceramahs or walkabouts.

They were happening in coffee shops.

And the issues that kept resurfacing were e-invoicing, the Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT), and whether Johor Barisan Nasional would ever work with PAS.

These were the sentiments that were reflected in the results, with Barisan Nasional winning 48 of the state’s 56 seats, of which, eight were won by MCA, and four by MIC.

In almost every conversation, Chinese and Indian business owners said menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi had largely delivered on promises made after the last state election.

Another point that came up repeatedly was appreciation for the state’s allocations for the Chinese and Indians through Yayasan Sultanah Fatimah and Yayasan Sultanah Rogayah, which many said had significantly supported welfare, education and community needs.

But beyond community issues, voters enthusiastically spoke about Johor’s economic prospects.

They pointed to new investments, expanding industrial parks, data centres and the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, believing Johor was finally beginning to realise its ambition of becoming a developed state by 2030.

That confidence also helped explain why Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s ceramahs drew some of the largest crowds during the campaign.

The moment he stepped out of his vehicle, supporters rushed towards him, phones in hand. Chants of “I love you, Anwar!” rang out as people tried to take photographs before he even reached the stage.

But enthusiasm for Anwar did not necessarily translate into support for Pakatan Harapan candidates.

Perhaps the most misunderstood issue of the campaign was e-invoicing. Many businesses were not opposed to the policy itself but were concerned about another layer of compliance at a time when operating costs are high, and uncertainty continued to weigh on confidence.

TAR UMT was an issue that ran much deeper than politics.

For many Chinese families, the institution has represented decades of community effort to provide affordable higher education.

Parents wanted reassurance that an institution built through community support and serving Malaysians of all backgrounds would continue receiving the backing it needed.

If there was one issue that consistently united Chinese voters, regardless of political affiliation, it was education.

Governments come and go, they told me. Education remains.

Among Indian voters, the campaign unfolded differently.

MIC leaders repeatedly highlighted the groundwork they had carried out over the past three years. Their message was simple: anyone who came seeking assistance would be helped, regardless of whether they supported BN, PH or another party.

It was a quiet approach, but one that mattered.

Another issue that repeatedly surfaced during walkabouts was confusion over where the responsibilities of the state government ended and those of the federal government began.

A key reassurance for many non-Malay voters came when Onn Hafiz ruled out any cooperation with PAS.

It removed any last-minute uncertainty that had lingered throughout the campaign. Many Chinese and Indian voters viewed Johor as a moderate state and wanted it to remain that way.

Looking back, many who turned up in large numbers to hear Anwar speak in Johor Bahru may not have changed how they intended to vote in the state election.

They could still be DAP members, acknowledge Onn Hafiz for driving Johor’s development, and listen to Anwar because he is the prime minister outlining the federal government’s plans.

In their minds, those were not conflicting positions.

They judged the state government on delivery, the federal government on leadership and national policies, and political parties on who they believed best represented their interests.

In Johor, this election suggested that party was still BN. - FMT

The writer is a senior journalist with FMT’s English Desk.

This article represents the writer’s opinion and does not necessarily reflect MMKtT’s position.