This article first appeared in Forum, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on July 6, 2026 - July 12, 2026

When a state election is called ahead of schedule while the government remains relatively stable, the immediate political question is obvious: Why now?

For ordinary Malaysians, however, a far more important question is this: Will this election make life any better?

The dissolution of the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state legislative assemblies before the end of their terms has inevitably triggered political speculation. Some see it as a strategic move to test party strength ahead of the 16th general election. Others view it as a contest that will shape future political alliances.

Yet beyond the calculations of political parties lies a constituency that often receives the least attention during election campaigns — the ordinary rakyat struggling with the realities of daily life.

Most households today are not debating electoral seats or coalition formulas. They are talking about increasingly uncertain employment, stagnant incomes, rising competition for economic opportunities and the relentless pressure of the cost of living.

For those who have recently lost their jobs, gig workers with unpredictable earnings, small business owners facing weaker sales or middle-income families cutting back on essential spending, elections are not merely celebrations of democracy. They bring a much more pressing question: After I cast my vote, what will actually change in my wallet?

Malaysia’s official unemployment figures may suggest that the labour market is performing reasonably well. However, a closer examination paints a more complicated picture. Beyond unemployment lies a deeper structural problem — job displacement, graduate underemployment and skills mismatch.

The real issue is no longer simply unemployment; it is the growing mismatch between qualifications and available jobs.

According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM), more than one-third of tertiary-educated graduates are employed in positions that do not fully utilise their qualifications. Many degree holders are working in semi-skilled occupations, accepting salaries that do not reflect their education or taking jobs outside their fields simply because economic realities leave them with few alternatives.

This explains why many Malaysians feel that economic growth has yet to reach their own pockets, despite encouraging macroeconomic indicators. Statistics may tell one story, but lived experience often tells another.

This is precisely why elections remain important.

In political theory, elections confer legitimacy upon governments. In practice, however, governments renew that legitimacy every single day through their ability to solve the problems people face.

If families continue to choose between paying rent and paying school fees, if graduates remain unable to secure meaningful employment, and if small businesses continue to struggle with rising operating costs and limited market access, then political victories cannot automatically be interpreted as victories for the people.

State elections also carry social and economic costs that are rarely discussed. While political machinery mobilises, narratives compete for attention and campaign strategies dominate public discourse, governance cannot simply be placed on pause.

Investment decisions, job creation initiatives, local economic development and social protection programmes must continue uninterrupted. Elections should never become an excuse for delaying policies that directly affect people’s livelihoods.

This question is particularly significant in Johor.

Johor is not merely another political battleground. It is one of the country’s most important economic engines, a gateway for international investment, a logistics hub and a state where many Malaysians pursue opportunities for upward social mobility. Political stability in Johor therefore has implications far beyond state borders.

For this reason, the coming state election should not simply become a referendum on political parties. It should be a referendum on ideas, policies and solutions.

Political parties seeking public support should answer several straightforward but fundamental questions:

•     How will quality jobs be created?

•     How will middle-income households cope with rising living costs?

•     How will young Malaysians be able to afford their first home?

•     How will local businesses become more competitive amid growing global economic uncertainty?

Today’s voters are considerably more discerning than before. They may attend political rallies out of curiosity or emotion, but increasingly they vote based on their lived experiences. They are not rejecting politics. They are rejecting politics that fails to improve their everyday lives.

The business community also has a critical role to play during election periods. Investors and businesses thrive on political stability, policy certainty and public confidence. Election campaigns should therefore avoid creating unnecessary uncertainty that delays investment decisions, hiring plans or business expansion. At the same time, the private sector should not remain a passive observer. Businesses can contribute constructively by continuing to invest, creating quality employment, supporting local supply chains, expanding skills development programmes and participating in policy dialogues that promote sustainable economic growth. Responsible corporate leadership during elections helps reassure markets that economic fundamentals remain strong regardless of political competition.

Ultimately, both government and business share a common interest: a stable political environment that supports long-term investment, higher productivity and inclusive prosperity. Elections determine who governs, but sustainable economic progress depends on continuous collaboration between the public and private sectors long after the campaign banners have come down.

When the election results are finally announced, political parties will either celebrate victory or reflect upon defeat.

But the true measure of success will not be the number of seats won. It will be whether, after the campaign flags have been taken down and the political stages dismantled, Malaysians return home with greater hope — or simply resume counting the remaining money in their wallets.

In a mature democracy, the greatest victory does not belong to political parties. It belongs to the people whose lives have genuinely become better.

Datuk Dr Anis Yusal Yusoff is principal fellow at The Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. He is a former president and CEO of the Malaysian Institute of Integrity.

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