POLITICAL observers say the relatively muted start to campaigning following nomination day is likely the result of political parties finalising informal electoral understandings and resolving internal differences before launching full-scale campaign efforts.
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia political analyst Associate Professor Dr Md Akbal Abdullah said the late announcement of candidates by several parties, including Parti Bersama Malaysia, suggested negotiations had continued until the final stages of the nomination process.
"There could have been some uncertainty earlier as some of the parties could be working on their a loose political pact.
"Now that PAS has openly asked their members to vote for Barisan Nasional candidates in areas they are not contesting in, it shows that there is something going on.
"This means that in areas where there are no Perikatan Nasional candidates, Barisan will be getting more votes," The Star reported him saying.
He added that PAS and Bersatu announcing their candidates separately at roughly the same time in northern Johor also suggested their internal disagreements had yet to be fully resolved.
Md Akbal said campaigning was expected to intensify in the coming days as parties and candidates began raising more contentious political issues.
PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man recently urged party members and supporters to back Barisan candidates in constituencies where Perikatan Nasional is not fielding candidates.
Perikatan is contesting 33 of Johor's 56 state seats, with Bersatu fielding 16 candidates, PAS 11, the Malaysian Indian People's Party (MIPP) five and Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) one.
Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia political analyst Associate Professor Dr Mazlan Ali described PAS's move as evidence of an informal electoral understanding designed to prevent the Malay vote from being divided.
"This seems to be the strategy, especially from PAS, as it did not even field a candidate against (caretaker Menteri Besar) Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi in Machap," he said.
He noted that PAS, Muda and Pejuang had all contested against Onn Hafiz during the previous Johor state election.
"Maybe that is why Perikatan is contesting fewer seats this time around. So if Barisan wins big in Johor, then their (PAS) quiet strategy not to break up the Malay vote will have worked.
"And PAS can continue to have discussions with Umno for more cooperation in the coming state polls in Negri Sembilan, Melaka and even GE16," he added.
Despite the presence of numerous parties in the Johor contest, Associate Professor Mazlan believes Barisan remains the clear favourite, citing the coalition's long-standing dominance in the state.
He added that Pakatan Harapan's hopes of limiting Barisan's majority would depend heavily on achieving voter turnout exceeding 85 per cent, particularly by encouraging Johor voters residing outside the state, including those working in Singapore, to return home to cast their ballots. - June 29, 2026
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