In Malaysia, BN’s Johor ‘blue wave’ leaves Anwar’s PH facing hard questions
The result will give BN momentum before the Negeri Sembilan state election on August 1 and could deepen friction within the ruling coalition
BN, which ruled the country for six decades before losing power in 2018 and later joining Anwar’s bloc in 2022, retained its Johor stronghold with 48 seats out of 56 on Saturday night – an improvement from the 40 it won in the 2022 polls. PH managed only eight, ceding ground from its previous 12.
Analysts say the result, which came despite Anwar campaigning heavily for PH, will give BN momentum before the Negeri Sembilan state election on August 1 and could deepen friction inside the ruling coalition, where PH and BN govern together in Putrajaya but are increasingly testing each other at the state level.
For Anwar, PH’s performance now lies in how hard BN can continue to rally support, bolstering a possible comeback in the federal government.
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, deputy prime minister and BN president, on Saturday night thanked Johoreans for again choosing BN to govern the state, stressing that the party “will not be arrogant in victory” and would strive to fulfil its campaign pledges.
“We also hope this victory will trigger a blue wave in the elections to come,” he said at a press conference at the party’s Johor headquarters before the final results were officially announced, but with a BN victory in clear sight.