JOHOR'S state election campaign has entered its decisive phase, with Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan stepping up efforts to persuade voters through contrasting visions of political stability, economic development and governance ahead of polling day on 11 July.
Barisan Nasional has centred its campaign on continuity under caretaker Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, highlighting the state's economic performance and pledging to continue long-term development initiatives under the Johor Maju 2030 agenda should it secure a renewed mandate.
Pakatan Harapan, meanwhile, is presenting a competing narrative that Johor would benefit more from having a state administration aligned with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's Federal Government, arguing that closer Putrajaya-Johor cooperation would accelerate investment, infrastructure development and the creation of higher-paying jobs.
Launching the coalition's election manifesto, Pakatan Harapan election director Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said Johor's strong economic growth had yet to translate into sufficient high-value employment opportunities for residents.
"Johor's development plans, if combined with the strength of the federal government, I am confident the state will become a place that generates good-quality, high-value jobs."
"People in the state will no longer need to cross the Causeway every day in search of a living," he said.
Pakatan Harapan's manifesto also promises assistance for first-time homebuyers, expanded healthcare protection and measures aimed at improving living standards as it seeks to broaden support across the state.
Barisan Nasional, led in Johor by Onn Hafiz, has consistently appealed for political continuity, arguing that a stronger mandate would enable the coalition to sustain welfare programmes, economic reforms and infrastructure projects already underway.
The final week of campaigning has seen senior leaders from both coalitions descend on Johor to reinforce their respective campaigns, with both sides recognising the strategic importance of the election.
Pakatan Harapan has repeatedly urged voters to return home and cast their ballots, believing a higher turnout could help the coalition defend key constituencies and reduce Barisan Nasional's parliamentary dominance, even if an outright victory remains challenging.
Barisan Nasional chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has likewise intensified campaigning, joining candidates and grassroots workers across multiple constituencies to strengthen the coalition's election machinery and consolidate support.
Political observers say turnout will be a decisive factor.
Political parties are simultaneously finalising extensive logistical operations to maximise turnout, including arranging free transport by cars, vans and motorcycles for supporters and elderly voters across Johor's 1,140 polling centres.
Several parties are also organising transport from Singapore, where more than 200,000 Johor voters work, in an effort to improve on the 54 per cent turnout recorded at the previous state election.
The Singapore-based electorate is regarded as particularly influential in southern Johor constituencies, including Johor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri, Kulai, Pasir Gudang, Tebrau and Pontian, many of which are traditional Pakatan Harapan strongholds.
Campaign messaging has increasingly focused on employment opportunities, cost-of-living pressures, affordable housing, healthcare, local government services and infrastructure improvements, including public transport and water supply.
Another key battleground remains Johor's 73 Felda settlements, which collectively account for more than 150,000 voters and are expected to influence the outcome in between 25 and 30 of the state's 56 constituencies.
Once considered a reliable Barisan Nasional support base, the Felda vote shifted significantly before the 2018 general election, when Pakatan Harapan captured more than a dozen seats, making the demographic a major target for both coalitions.
Over the weekend, Prime Minister and Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim attended at least 14 campaign events across 13 constituencies, including several closely contested seats such as Puteri Wangsa, Layang-Layang, Bukit Batu, Larkin and Perling.
During the campaign trail, Anwar met youth groups, religious leaders and local communities while urging voters to return home to cast their ballots and emphasising the importance of electing capable and honest representatives.
Meanwhile, Zahid continued campaigning throughout the state, calling on voters to give Barisan Nasional a stronger mandate beyond the 40 seats it currently controls and reaffirming the coalition's commitment to implementing every pledge contained in its election manifesto.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia political analyst Dr Mazlan Ali expects campaigning to intensify further in the final days, with new issues likely to emerge before polling.
"The exchange between Anwar and caretaker Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Onn Hafiz Ghazi over the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is an example of how unexpected issues continue to crop up during this election."
"I will not be surprised if the government decides to publicly disclose more information about the project, similar to what they did when the state requested 25% of the revenue collected in Johor," he said.
Mazlan believes Barisan Nasional remains the favourite to retain power but noted that the active involvement of both Anwar and Zahid underlines the broader political significance of the contest, with the outcome expected to shape momentum ahead of the Negeri Sembilan election and eventually the 16th General Election.
He added that comments by Datuk Seri Najib Razak's son suggesting a large Barisan Nasional victory would strengthen calls for the former prime minister to receive a royal pardon could have mixed electoral consequences.
"Even Datuk Seri Najib Razak's son's statement that a big Barisan victory would signal continued public support for his father, and his hope that Najib would receive a royal pardon, may not sit well with the Chinese community or the Malay middle class," he said.
Mazlan expects both Anwar and Zahid to return to Johor for a final round of campaigning before voters go to the polls on 11 July. - July 6, 2026
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