BN banking on Malay vote strategy that delivered 40-seat Johor win, says analyst

BARISAN Nasional’s (BN) decision to reject any electoral cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH), especially DAP, in the upcoming Johor state election reflects a continuation of a proven strategy aimed at consolidating Malay support, according to political analyst Dr Azmi Hassan.

The senior fellow at Akademi Nusantara said the approach mirrors BN’s strategy during the 2022 Johor state election, when the coalition chose to go solo instead of working with PH — a move that resulted in a commanding victory.

“The same campaign strategy was used during the 2022 Johor election when BN did not want to work with Pakatan Harapan. We saw the result, with BN winning 40 seats,” he said.

Dr Azmi was commenting on Johor BN chairman Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi’s recent stance rejecting any cooperation with DAP-PH in the state polls.

Onn Hafiz has maintained that Johor’s political dynamics differ from the federal-level cooperation between BN and PH.

According to Dr Azmi, BN’s electoral calculus continues to prioritise Malay voters, who form the backbone of the coalition’s support.

“I believe this strategy will benefit BN in its efforts to attract Malay votes. The most important votes for BN are Malay votes rather than non-Malay votes,” he said.

He added that potential gains from PH’s voter base would likely be marginal and insufficient to offset the risks of alienating BN’s core supporters.

“If BN cooperates with PH, whatever votes it may receive from PH supporters are not that significant in this context,” he said.

Dr Azmi noted that the strategy has not been confined to Johor, but has also been evident in BN’s political approach in states such as Perak and Pahang.

“This is a strategy that was used in Johor, but also in Perak and Pahang, and it is likely to be utilised again in future general elections,” he added.

The remarks come amid ongoing debate over BN’s positioning at the state level, particularly as Johor BN continues to distance itself from PH despite both coalitions working together under the federal Unity Government framework.

Johor BN leaders have insisted that the stance reflects local political realities and confidence in securing a mandate independently, while critics argue it could strain broader cooperation between the two coalitions. - June 9, 2026