SEREMBAN, June 4 — The Negri Sembilan state assembly is expected to be dissolved tomorrow, clearing the way for snap elections as the state’s political impasse continues.

According to reporting by The Star, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun is scheduled to hold a press conference after Friday prayers, where he is widely expected to announce the dissolution. Talk of an early dissolution has circulated since the start of the week.

Sources told the newspaper that Pakatan Harapan leaders have tentatively agreed on their seat allocations:PKR is expected to contest 16 seats, DAP 11, and Amanah nine in the 36‑seat assembly.

Speculation intensified on Wednesday after Aminuddin met state ruler Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir twice — once for a routine pre‑exco briefing and again later in the day. He also cancelled his weekly media briefing at the last minute and declined to speak to reporters.

Senior state leaders, including DAP’s Anthony Loke and Amanah’s Datuk MK Ibrahim Abd Rahman, are expected to join Aminuddin at Friday’s announcement.

The political situation has been unstable since late April, when 14 Barisan Nasional assemblymen from Umno withdrew support for Aminuddin’s administration, citing dissatisfaction over his handling of the state’s royal crisis. Although the state ruler later directed Aminuddin to continue his duties pending clarity, the unity government has remained strained.

On May 5, national leaders from Umno and Pakatan Harapan agreed to maintain the unity government framework in Negri Sembilan, but the 14 Umno assemblymen stood by their decision not to support Aminuddin.

Pakatan leaders have since said that dissolving the assembly is the most viable option to resolve the impasse.

The previous state election was held on Aug 12, 2023, with Pakatan winning 17 seats, Barisan 14 and Perikatan Nasional five.

JOHOR BAHRU, June 1 — Johor Pakatan Harapan (PH) is prepared to face the upcoming state election following the dissolution of the state legislative assembly.

In a joint statement, Johor PH said the coalition had expected that Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) would dissolve the assembly soon to pave way for an election.

“From the start, PH expected BN to dissolve the state assembly in the near future.

“In the spirit of democracy, PH will continue with existing preparations to face this election,” read the statement that was released tonight.

The statement was co-signed by Johor PH chairman and Johor Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) chief Aminolhuda Hassan; Johor PKR chief Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa; and Johor DAP chief Teo Nie Ching.

PH Johor also announced that it will hold discussions at the coalition’s Presidential Council level at the national level to plan its next steps.

“For us, there is no easy election. PH is prepared to make the best effort possible to win this state election,” read the statement.

In a related note, the coalition also criticised the June 22 special one-day state legislative assembly sitting, describing it as illogical.

The notice for the June 22 state legislative assembly sitting was widely expected to announce the dissolution of the Johor state assembly.

Earlier, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced the dissolution of the state legislative assembly.

This effectively paves the way for the state’s upcoming election.

ISKANDAR PUTERI, June 15 — Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan has confirmed he will not contest in the upcoming Johor state election, despite speculation linking him to several state seats.

Ahmad, who is also Deputy Works Minister, said he has no intention of contesting either the Benut or Pulai Sebatang state seat within the Pontian parliamentary seat.

“I have informed the party leadership of my decision and believe other candidates should be given the opportunity to contest for those seats,” he told reporters after a working visit to the Johor Public Works Department (JKR) here today.

However, the Pontian MP said he would continue to play an active role in helping BN and Umno secure victory in the state election.

The Election Commission has set July 11 as polling day for the 16th Johor state election, with nomination day on June 27 and early voting on July 7. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 — Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called for mature politics, responsible leadership and practical solutions to address current challenges in an increasingly complex global environment.

In conjunction with BN’s 52nd anniversary, Ahmad Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said the coalition must continue to move forward with a spirit of renewal, grounded in experience and an openness to adapt to future demands.

“Believe me, the journey ahead will not always be easy. We will face various terrains, with the biggest challenge being the coming General Election,” he said in a Facebook post.

He urged all BN leaders, machinery and supporters to remain united, loyal to the struggle and attentive to the needs and sentiments of the people in order to secure a stronger mandate for the coalition.

Ahmad Zahid, who is Umno president, said BN was formed 52 years ago out of a spirit of understanding, moderation and cooperation among Malaysia’s diverse communities, to build the nation collectively.

Over the past five decades, he said, BN has gone through various phases of struggle, including an era of leading the nation’s growth as well as facing challenges that required resilience and self-reflection.

“However, one thing that has remained unchanged is our commitment to serve the people and uphold the country’s stability,” he said.

He also expressed appreciation to all party members and machinery who continue to support BN’s struggle with dedication and loyalty. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 — Amanah secretary-general Muhammad Faiz Fadzil has reportedly said Pakatan Harapan (PH) is not planning any post-election cooperation with Barisan Nasional (BN) after the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state polls.

According to Utusan Malaysia, Faiz said PH’s current priority was to strengthen its own position ahead of any political developments after the elections.

“So far, there are no plans for cooperation with BN after the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections,” he was quoted as saying.

Faiz, who is also the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia chairman, was reportedly speaking to reporters after a Madani engagement programme with fishermen from the northern Perak zone in Sungai Betul Bawah, Tanjung Piandang, yesterday.

He said Amanah was confident it would be allocated seats it could win once negotiations within PH were finalised.

He added that seat talks among PH component parties were almost complete and had proceeded smoothly, with an announcement to be made by the coalition leadership soon.

KUALA TERENGGANU, June 2 — Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has submitted the coalition’s proposed candidates for the upcoming state election, with the list now being assessed, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

The Deputy Prime Minister and BN chairman said the lineup submitted by the Menteri Besar would be finalised after consultations with leaders of BN’s component parties.

“The candidates are still being assessed. At the same time, we must also respect the candidates put forward by BN’s other component parties,” he told reporters after officiating the closing ceremony of the Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Economic Convention (KEUB) 2026 at the Terengganu Equestrian Resort here.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, confirmed that Onn Hafiz would remain BN’s poster boy for the election.

He said BN is setting its sights on winning more than 40 seats in the state election, improving on its performance in the 2022 polls.

However, Ahmad Zahid stressed that no victory comes easily and that success would depend on hard work, sound strategy and a well-organised election machinery.

He expressed confidence that the various initiatives implemented by the Johor government under BN’s administration would resonate with voters and strengthen public support for the coalition.

Addressing perceptions surrounding BN’s relationship with Pakatan Harapan (PH) following the decision to contest separately, Ahmad Zahid emphasised that the Johor government was formed by BN before the establishment of the Unity Government at the federal level.

“The Johor government is a BN government, not a Unity Government. Johor BN has opened the door for friendly contests across all 56 state seats,” he said.

Yesterday, Onn Hafiz announced the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly after obtaining the consent of the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, paving the way for a fresh state election.

He also confirmed that the coalition will field candidates in all 56 state constituencies.

In the 2022 Johor state election, BN secured a commanding victory by winning 40 of the 56 seats contested, while PH won 12 seats, Perikatan Nasional three and Muda one. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 — Umno will continue to support the Unity Government that was formed after the 15th General Election (GE15) until the next general election, in line with the decree of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.

Umno Secretary-General Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said this stance was decided during the Umno Supreme Council (MKT) meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the Umno President, at Menara Dato’ Onn here yesterday.

At the same time, he stated that the agreement to form the Unity Government at the Federal level does not bind any state government.

According to him, the Johor State Government was formed before the creation of the Federal-level Unity Government and did not involve parties from Pakatan Harapan (PH).

Asyraf Wajdi added that the decision by Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) to defend the state mandate is not a form of betrayal against the Federal Government, as claimed by certain parties.

“On the contrary, it is a legitimate, mature, and constitutional democratic practice that fully returns the mandate to the people,” he said.

He also mentioned that Umno remains open to any form of cooperation with any party for the sake of the country’s political stability and the well-being of the people; however, any cooperation must be built upon the principles of sincerity and trust. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, June 5 — Barisan Nasional (BN) is ready for the Negeri Sembilan state election and remains open to continuing its cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH) to retain the unity government in the state, its chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

However, Ahmad Zahid said it was still too early to hold formal discussions on any electoral cooperation between the two coalitions.

“We are prepared for the Negeri Sembilan state election and, of course, remain very open to continuing the unity government in the state,” he told reporters after visiting the exhibition site for National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Day 2026 at Dataran Putrajaya here today.

The deputy prime minister’s remarks came a day after Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun announced the dissolution of the 36-seat State Legislative Assembly to pave the way for the 16th state election.

In the 2023 state election, PH and BN formed the Negeri Sembilan government after securing a combined 31 of the 36 seats contested.

PH won 17 seats, followed by BN with 14, while Perikatan Nasional (PN) secured five seats.

Negeri Sembilan became the second state to dissolve its legislative assembly for a fresh election after Johor, which dissolved its State Legislative Assembly on Monday. — Bernama

PETALING JAYA, June 7 — Caretaker Johor menteri besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has declared he would not remain in office if Barisan Nasional (BN) were to form a state government with DAP.

Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported that the statement was made during the launch of BN’s election machinery in Iskandar Puteri, where he rejected suggestions that support for BN would translate into backing for DAP, describing the claim as “slander”.

“I would rather not hold the position of menteri besar or sit at the same table with them. This is the spirit of Johor, the Bangsa Johor spirit,” he was quoted as saying.

He said that when the state government is reformed with the consent of the Sultan of Johor and the Regent of Johor, and BN is given the mandate to lead again, it would not at any time form a government with DAP.

According to the report, Onn Hafiz, who also chairs Johor BN, said he had been directed by party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to seek feedback from divisions before the coalition’s election plan was finalised. 

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — The dissolution of the Johor state legislative assembly is timely as the state government is currently in its strongest position, backed by positive public support for the current leadership, says Umno Information chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

According to Kosmo! Online, Azalina, said the announcement by Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi falls within the state government’s rights and discretion.

“Talk about Johor dissolving the assembly has been ongoing for some time; it was only a matter of timing. We even said Melaka should come first before Johor, but now Johor is first,” she said.

“Perhaps with what has happened recently, the 80th Umno anniversary at the Johor Istana Besar, and Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) winning the Super League title for the 12th consecutive season, I see strong positive support from the people of Johor towards the state leadership.”

She added that the state election process should be conducted with a strong emphasis on democratic principles and calm conduct.

“If possible, we must emphasise the democratic element. There should be no violence or issues arising. From a legal standpoint, we must understand the norms of elections in our system,” she said.

Azalina, who is also minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), said candidate selection lies with the political bureau and the state Barisan Nasional leadership, which apply their own evaluation criteria.

However, she stressed that young voters are a key demographic that cannot be ignored, as they now make up a significant portion of the political landscape.

TANJUNG MALIM, June 16 — The formation of new political parties in the country will not affect Barisan Nasional's (BN) prospects in the upcoming Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections, said BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.

He said the coalition was well-prepared for the two state polls and remained fully focused on efforts in the areas where it will field candidates.

He said that while anyone is free to establish a new political party in a democracy, BN will continue to adhere to its strategies and preparations.

“Johor Umno and BN have prepared extensively, and I believe the formation of a new party will have no impact on BN, based on the efforts and preparations that have already been set in motion,” he said.

He said this when asked whether the emergence of Parti Wawasan Negara and Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) would pose a challenge to BN in the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections.

Earlier, Zambry launched the pilot programme for the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) 3.0 at public universities before attending the launch of the book Nahas Gerik: UPSI Berduka at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) here today.

The Johor state poll is slated for July 11, while voters in Negeri Sembilan will cast their ballots on August 1. — Bernama 

KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 — DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke fired back at Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) chief Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi after the latter declared he would rather resign than cooperate with DAP in forming the next Johor state government.

The exchange erupted after Onn Hafiz declared during the launch of the party’s election machinery in EduCity, Iskandar Puteri earlier today that “I would rather not hold the position of Menteri Besar than have to sit at the same table with them. This is the spirit of Johor, Bangsa Johor”. 

“You don’t want to sit at the same table with DAP…… Great! Keep up your arrogance,” Loke responded on Facebook, in a post that has since gone viral.

“But your president sits next to the DAP secretary-general every week, right… just so you know… thank you!” he added, in a pointed reminder that at the federal level, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi sits alongside DAP leaders in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Cabinet.

The war of words underscores the widening gap between federal and state political realities in Johor. 

While DAP and Umno are coalition partners in the unity government, Onn Hafiz has made clear that the arrangement does not extend to Johor.

Onn Hafiz insisted his stance was not driven by racial sentiment, as some have alleged, but rooted in Johor’s unique multiracial identity under the Bangsa Johor concept. 

He also claimed BN Johor has never sat at the same table with DAP, though he acknowledged that a previous menteri besar from Bersatu had done so.

The Johor legislative assembly was dissolved on June 1, paving the way for a state election that must be held within 60 days.

This round, BN is seeking a stronger mandate than its 2022 state election performance and has pledged to contest all 56 seats.

Onn Hafiz, who is caretaker menteri besar, has pledged to continue the Bantuan Kasih Johor assistance scheme if BN retains power.

At the time of dissolution, the division in the legislative assembly had BN holding 40 seats, followed by Pakatan Harapan (12), Perikatan Nasional (three), and Muda (one).