The Johor state legislative assembly was dissolved on June 1, officially launching preparations for the 16th Johor state election set for July 11, 2026. All 56 state assembly seats will be contested in this election, with nomination day scheduled for June 27 and early voting on July 7 [1, 2, 3].
Barisan Nasional (BN) holds a strong pre-dissolution majority with 40 seats out of 56, including 33 by Umno, 4 by MCA, and 3 by MIC. Pakatan Harapan (PH) holds 12 seats, Perikatan Nasional (PN) 3, and Muda 1 ahead of polling day [1, 4, 3].
BN plans to introduce new faces for at least 12 state seats. A senior BN leader said the coalition wants candidates who "can work as a team player after the election" to avoid complications [4]. Some incumbents, such as former mentri besar Hasni Mohammad, are expected to be dropped. BN is negotiating seat allocations among Umno, MIC, and MCA [4].
Pakatan Harapan’s component parties are finalizing candidates ahead of a June 22 announcement in Bukit Gambir, Tangkak, which PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will attend. PKR will contest 20 seats, DAP 17, and Amanah 19 [2, 5]. PKR’s list is said to be 99% final and includes a mix of experienced and fresh candidates with youth and women’s representation [3].
Amanah confirmed roughly half their 19 candidates are new, with about half youth and two women shortlisted [6]. DAP announced four candidates on June 20, including first-time challengers and incumbents defending their seats [7].
Parti Bersama Malaysia plans to announce candidates today after receiving over 300 applications for Johor and Negeri Sembilan; the party is vetting applicants through interviews and background checks, according to Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli [8].
Perikatan Nasional faces internal tension between PAS and Bersatu ahead of the polls. The coalition’s emergency supreme council meeting is set for June 22 at 8:30pm to discuss issues including logo use and membership [9, 10]. PN chairman Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar insisted the coalition composition will remain unchanged for now [9].
Current Johor menteri besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi emphasized the appointment depends on royal consent from the Sultan or Regent of Johor, beyond party status. "The consent of the Johor royal institution is very important," he said [11].
Former Titi Serong state assemblyman Hasnul Zulkarnain Abd Munaim rejoined Amanah on June 18 after nearly six years, a decision made by Amanah’s leadership [12].
Outstation voters including young first-timers and Malaysians working in Singapore are arranging travel plans to return to Johor to cast their ballots. Balqis Muzakkir said, "I am really looking forward to it and would not allow distance to prevent me from making my voice heard through the ballot box." Another voter, Tan Sheau Hui, noted plans to cross the border early to avoid traffic [1].
The next major event will be the nomination day on June 27, when all candidates must officially register, followed by early voting on July 7, leading up to the full election day on July 11 [1, 2, 8].
