Pakatan Harapan (PH) does not view its defeat in the Johor state election as a defining moment, saying each state has its own unique political dynamics and the coalition remains focused on defending Negeri Sembilan in the next electoral contest.
PH deputy chairman Anthony Loke said the coalition respects the people’s mandate after Barisan Nasional (BN) secured a two-thirds majority in the Johor state election, winning 48 of the 56 seats contested, while PH took the remaining eight.
Loke said PH had anticipated a tough contest given the strong momentum enjoyed by the Johor state government, but noted that the coalition’s performance showed it continued to retain support in key constituencies.
He said DAP successfully defended six of the 10 seats it won in the previous Johor election, with all six secured by majorities exceeding 50%, demonstrating the party’s continued strength, particularly in urban areas.
“The Johor result is certainly disappointing for PH, but every day is a new beginning. We respect the decision of the people of Johor because that is their right in a democratic system,” he said.
Loke attributed BN’s stronger showing partly to straight fights in many constituencies, saying the shift from three-cornered contests resulted in vote transfers that favoured the coalition.
However, he stressed that Johor should not be treated as a benchmark for future elections, as every state has different political issues, voter sentiment and electoral dynamics.
Looking ahead to the Negeri Sembilan state election, Loke said PH’s priority is to defend the 17 seats it currently holds and renew its mandate to remain the state government.
He said PH entered the upcoming contest from a position of strength after winning 17 seats in the last Negeri Sembilan election, compared with BN’s 14, but acknowledged that all candidates must work harder to retain existing seats while seeking additional gains.
