Polling officially concluded across Negeri Sembilan on Saturday evening 6pm after all 40 polling stations closed, marking the end of voting in one of the country’s most closely watched state elections.
The Election Commission (EC) thanked voters for fulfilling their civic responsibility and election workers, security personnel and volunteers for ensuring that polling proceeded smoothly throughout the day.
With voting now complete, attention has shifted to the counting of ballots, where the outcome will determine which coalition will emerge victorious in the fiercely contested battle for control of the state.
The election has been widely viewed as a crucial test of political support for the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, which faced a strong challenge from Barisan Nasional (BN). Both coalitions campaigned aggressively across the state in what political observers described as one of the most competitive state contests in recent years.
Among the races drawing the closest scrutiny are those involving DAP Secretary-General Anthony Loke and the caretaker Menteri Besar, both of whom faced intense campaigns from their respective challengers.
Loke, who also serves as Transport Minister and is regarded as one of PH’s most prominent national leaders, is seeking to retain his seat amid heightened political competition. Meanwhile, the caretaker Menteri Besar’s performance is expected to be a key indicator of voter confidence in the incumbent state administration.
Election officials have begun the ballot counting process at designated counting centres, with unofficial results expected to emerge later in the evening before the EC announces the official outcome.
The outcome will determine not only the composition of the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly but also which coalition will form the next state government.
