POLLING is under way across Johor as more than 2.7 million registered voters head to the ballot box to decide who will form the state's next government, with Barisan Nasional widely expected to retain power despite mounting pressure from Pakatan Harapan in several key battlegrounds.
Voting is taking place in all 56 State Legislative Assembly constituencies, with 172 candidates representing seven political parties and coalitions. However, the election is largely viewed as a direct contest between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan.
Barisan enters the election seeking to defend the two-thirds majority it secured in 2022, when it won 40 of the 56 seats, although political observers believe voter turnout will be the defining factor in determining the coalition's final mandate.
Johor's electoral landscape comprises 25 Malay-majority constituencies, 17 mixed seats and 14 non-Malay-majority constituencies, with several marginal seats expected to play a decisive role in shaping the outcome.
Among the most closely watched contests is Puteri Wangsa, where Pakatan Harapan's prospective Menteri Besar candidate, Dr Maszlee Malik, is contesting in a five-cornered race.
Perling has also emerged as a constituency to watch, with MIC contesting a Chinese-majority seat for the first time, while Bukit Batu, which PKR retained in 2022 by a slender 137-vote majority, is expected to remain highly competitive.
Other closely contested seats include Layang-Layang, where MCA is standing following a seat swap with Umno; Bukit Kepong, contested by Johor Bersatu chief and former Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal; and Endau, where Barisan Nasional has fielded Alwiyah Talib after her return to Umno from Bersatu.
Additional marginal constituencies include Bukit Pasir, Parit Yaani, Tangkak, Serom and Jementah, all of which were won by fewer than 750 votes at the last state election.
Kota Iskandar is also expected to attract attention as the constituency with Johor's largest electorate of 132,579 voters, including the state's highest number of young voters at 11,650.
The campaign concluded with both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan deploying senior national leaders across Johor, while Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made several visits to campaign for Pakatan candidates.
Parti Bersama Malaysia, making its electoral debut in 15 constituencies, is not expected to secure many seats but could influence the outcome in several marginal contests by drawing support away from Pakatan Harapan.
The campaign period was marked by several political controversies. PAS leaders urged supporters to back Barisan Nasional candidates in the 23 constituencies not contested by Perikatan Nasional, prompting Pakatan Harapan to allege an electoral understanding between Umno and PAS to avoid splitting the Malay vote. Barisan Nasional has denied the allegation.
Pakatan Harapan also faced internal scrutiny following claims by former Skudai assemblywoman Marina Ibrahim that a senior DAP leader had privately supported former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's bid for house arrest despite publicly opposing the proposal.
Within Barisan Nasional, former Johor State Assembly Speaker Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi criticised Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi after his son was omitted from the list of candidates, while opposition parties repeatedly questioned Onn Hafiz's leadership and his handling of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone initiative.
By the end of polling and vote counting later today, only 56 candidates will emerge with a mandate to serve in the next Johor State Legislative Assembly and determine the composition of the state's new administration. - July 11, 2026
