The Election Commission announced BN’s victory of 48 seats, out of 56 up for grabs, with PH managing only eight. BN’s result was better than the 40 seats it secured in the 2022 race.
Analysts say the result, which came despite Anwar campaigning heavily for PH, will give BN momentum before the Negeri Sembilan state election on August 1 and could deepen friction inside the ruling coalition, where PH and BN govern together in Putrajaya but are increasingly testing each other at the state level.
For Anwar, PH’s performance now lies in how hard BN can continue to rally support, bolstering a possible comeback in the federal government.
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, deputy prime minister and BN president, on Saturday night thanked Johoreans for again choosing BN to govern the state, stressing that the party “will not be arrogant in victory” and would strive to fulfil its campaign pledges.
“We also hope this victory will trigger a blue wave in the elections to come,” he said at a press conference at the party’s Johor headquarters before the final results were officially announced, but with a BN victory in clear sight.