JOHOR BAHRU (May 17): Johor Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Aminolhuda Hassan said the coalition is prepared to contest all 56 Johor state seats, in direct response to Barisan Nasional’s (BN) announcement that it intends to go solo in the next state polls.

Aminolhuda said the declaration by Johor Barisan Nasional chairman and Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi showed that BN was no longer interested in continuing electoral cooperation with PH in the state.

“They have already announced they want to contest all 56 seats. Therefore, PH Johor will also contest all 56 seats,” he said at the PH Convention 2026 on Sunday.

He described the coming polls as a direct political challenge that PH could not ignore, telling delegates that the coalition must prepare for a full-scale electoral battle in Johor.

Aminolhuda argued that BN’s aggressive stance reflected concerns over losing urban support, particularly in densely populated constituencies where PH has traditionally performed strongly.

He also reminded party members that PH had previously achieved significant electoral success in Johor, including during the 2018 general election when the coalition captured the state government for the first time.

Speculation has intensified in recent weeks that Johor could head into an early state election ahead of the current assembly’s expiry in April 2027. This follows heightened political activity surrounding Umno’s 80th anniversary celebration at the Istana Besar Johor on May 11.

The 15th Johor state election was held on March 12, 2022, with BN securing a commanding victory after winning 40 of the 56 state seats. PH won 12 seats, while Perikatan Nasional secured three and Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) won one.

 Of BN’s 40 seats, Umno controls 33, while Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) holds four and Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) has three.

Earlier, Johor PKR chief Zaliha Mustafa said PKR and PH would go “all out” in Johor after taking note of BN’s decision to contest independently in the next state election.

“Actually, we had expected this. We had heard the speculation before, and yesterday it was confirmed they want to move solo in all 56 seats,” she told The Edge.

“For us, we are already prepared and we will go all out together with PH,” she added.

Read also:
Pakatan Harapan leaders gather in Johor amid early state election talk 
Pakatan not alarmed by Barisan’s election strategy — Maszlee Malik
Negeri Sembilan MB says Umno ‘lost direction’, urges grassroots to close ranks ahead of polls
Johor BN defends plans to go solo in state election, says Putrajaya stability unaffected
Putrajaya also has hand in driving Johor's development, not just state govt — Loke
DAP wants Negeri Sembilan to follow Johor in dissolution of state assembly, calls for PH to contest all seats
Anwar says snap election possible amid strain in unity govt
Pakatan more consolidated after internal polls, says Amirudin