Muhyiddin Says Perikatan May Not Form Johor Government, Calls for Strong Opposition

BATU PAHAT: Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has acknowledged that the coalition may not have enough support to form the next Johor state government following the state election on Saturday, July 11.

Despite this, Muhyiddin urged voters to back Perikatan candidates, emphasising that a strong opposition presence in the Johor State Legislative Assembly (DUN) is essential to ensure transparency, accountability, and effective oversight of the state administration.

Speaking at the Perikatan for Johor Talk held at the coalition’s main operations room in Parit Raja on Tuesday night, Muhyiddin said securing a sufficient number of seats would enable PN to serve as an effective check and balance against the ruling government.

“If Perikatan has enough seats, the government cannot act without being questioned. Our role is to ensure that every policy and every ringgit of public funds spent by the state government is properly scrutinised,” he said.

Muhyiddin stressed that an opposition bloc plays a crucial role, particularly if a government with a large electoral mandate fails to fulfil its promises to the people.

He cautioned voters against granting overwhelming support to any single coalition solely based on expectations of victory, arguing that a landslide majority could weaken accountability.

“If a party wins an overwhelming number of seats, there is no guarantee it will continue working hard for the people. In the end, it is the rakyat who may lose out,” he said, referring to speculation that one coalition could secure as many as 40 seats in the state assembly.

Although PN is contesting fewer seats than some of its rivals and may not be in a position to form the state government, Muhyiddin maintained that the coalition’s presence as a credible opposition remains vital to safeguarding public interests.

He called on Johor voters to elect representatives who are committed to championing the people’s concerns and ensuring the state government remains accountable.

Also present at the event was Bersatu’s candidate for the Parit Raja state constituency, Dr. Mohamed Maliki Mohamed Rapiee.