By Hasnah Jusid
JOHOR BAHRU, Johor: Barisan Nasional (BN) won 48 of the 56 seats contested in the 16th Johor State Election to form the state government once again with a larger two-thirds majority.
The remaining eight seats went to Pakatan Harapan (PH).
The victory saw BN increase its tally by eight seats from the 40 it won in the 2022 Johor State Election.
The Election Commission (EC) released the full results at about 1:00 am today, with the Puteri Wangsa seat, won by PH, being the last seat declared.
For BN, UMNO won 36 seats, MCA eight and MIC four.
For PH, DAP won six seats, while PKR and Amanah won one each.
Perikatan Nasional (PN), Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama), Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA), Parti Orang Asli Malaysia (ASLI) and six independent candidates all failed to win any seats.
Speaking to the media at the Johor UMNO headquarters, Johor BN Chairman, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, described the victory as a huge mandate from the people to continue serving them, engaging with the rakyat, and resolving various issues for the well-being of Bangsa Johor.
He said the victory was a great trust bestowed upon BN, which it accepted with gratitude and humility.
BN’s victory also saw MIC win all four seats it contested through K. Raven Kumar (Kemelah), V. Rugendran (Kahang), P. Pannir Selvam (Perling), and R. Kumaran (Bukit Batu).
MCA’s seats were won by Ling Tiang Soon (Yong Peng), Lee Ting Han (Paloh), Tan Chong (Bekok), Tan Eng Meng (Pekan Nanas), Chua Jian Boon (Layang-Layang), Haw Chin Teck (Tangkak), See Ann Giap (Jementah) and Chan San San (Johor Jaya).
DAP won in Skudai, Mengkibol, Bentayan, Senai, Penggaram and Stulang, while Amanah won Simpang Jeram and PKR secured Puteri Wangsa.
This election saw DAP lose 11 of the 17 seats it contested, including four seats it had previously held – Johor Jaya, Tangkak, Jementah and Perling – which were captured by MCA and MIC.
Bersama lost its deposits in all 15 constituencies it contested.
PKR’s Election Director, Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, expressed appreciation to all Johoreans who had fulfilled their responsibility as voters and congratulated all the successful candidates.
He said the results would spur PH to continue playing its role as a credible and principled opposition by carrying the people’s voice and offering solutions to unresolved basic issues.
PN, which won three seats in the 2022 Johor State Election, failed to defend all of them after losing Bukit Kepong, contested by former Johor Menteri Besar and Johor Bersatu’s Chairman, Dr Sahruddin Jamal, as well as Endau and Maharani.
In a statement, Johor PAS said it respected and accepted the results with an open heart, and viewed them as a democratic expression of the people’s choice in determining the state’s leadership.
In Machap, Onn Hafiz lived up to expectations by retaining his seat in a straight fight against PH candidate, Nur Hafiz Roslan, securing 20,382 votes to win by a majority of 15,375 votes.
Former Education Minister, Dr Maszlee Malik, won the Puteri Wangsa seat, defeating four other contenders – BN candidate Teow Chia Ling, Nicholas Paul Vincent of Bersama, Rashifa Aljunied of MUDA, and Independent candidate Wang Wee Seong.
Former Health Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, regained the Pasir Raja seat, which he had previously held for two terms, while all nine state executive councillors who were renominated retained their respective seats.
However, two Members of Parliament who contested in the state election were defeated by BN candidates, with Onn Abu Bakar losing in Senggarang and Suhaizan Kayat defeated in Larkin.
Also making history was UMNO Ayer Hitam division’s chief, Datuk Samsolbari Jamali, who successfully defended the Semarang seat for a sixth consecutive term.
A total of 172 candidates contested in the polls, comprising 56 candidates each from BN and PH, 33 from PN, 15 from Bersama, four from MUDA, six Independents, and one candidate each from PSM and ASLI.
Polling was held yesterday (Saturday, July 11), involving some 2.7 million registered voters. – BERNAMA
