BN to Contest All 56 Johor Seats in State Election

The Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition has announced its intention to contest all 56 seats in the upcoming Johor state election. The decision was confirmed by Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

Under this plan, the coalition—which is anchored by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)—will not enter into cooperation with other political pacts in Johor. In other words BN will run independently of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, as well as the Perikatan Nasional (PN) and the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) in the opposition camp.

Rationale for the decision

In a statement shared via Facebook, Onn Hafiz explained that the decision to contest every seat in the state assembly serves as a demonstration of the coalition’s commitment to the region.

The decision to contest all 56 seats in next Johor state election is a “clear offer to the people that we are ready to continue to form a stable, strong government and fully serve to the development of the state and the welfare of Johor”, said Onn Hafiz.

Political reactions

The announcement has drawn varied responses from other political entities. The Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), a component of the BN coalition, described the decision to contest the polls as a bold, far-sighted move.

Conversely, representatives from the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition in Johor indicated that the decision for BN to pursue a solo election plan was expected.