BN Candidate List for Johor State Election Under Review, Says Ahmad Zahid
KUALA TERENGGANU: The list of Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates for the Johor State Election (PRN Johor) has been submitted by Johor BN chairman Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and is currently undergoing evaluation, according to BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said the proposed list will be finalised after discussions with leaders of BN component parties.
“The candidates are still in the evaluation stage, but we must also respect those who have been proposed,” he told reporters after the closing ceremony of the Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Economic Convention (KEUB 2026) held here on Monday.
He confirmed that Onn Hafiz will remain BN’s “poster boy” for the state election and expressed BN’s commitment to winning more than 40 seats in the upcoming polls, surpassing its 2022 performance.
However, Ahmad Zahid acknowledged that victory would not come easily and would require strong efforts, strategic planning, and a well-organised election machinery.
He also said various initiatives implemented by the Johor state government under BN administration are expected to strengthen public support and voter confidence in the upcoming election.
Addressing perceptions about BN’s relationship with Pakatan Harapan (PH), Ahmad Zahid dismissed claims of political tension following the decision to contest independently in Johor. He stressed that the Johor state government had been formed under BN before the establishment of the federal unity government.
“The Johor government is a BN government, not a Unity Government. BN Johor has already opened the door for friendly competition across all 56 state seats,” he said.
On Sunday, Onn Hafiz announced the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly after receiving consent from Johor Regent Tunku Mahkota Ismail, paving the way for the state election.
Earlier, Onn Hafiz confirmed that BN Johor will contest all 56 state seats in the election.
In the 2022 state election, BN won 40 seats, Pakatan Harapan secured 12, Perikatan Nasional 3, and MUDA 1.
-BERNAMA