Fresh Off Johor Triumph, BN Signals Different Strategy For Negeri Sembilan Polls
After sweeping the Johor state election, Barisan Nasional will not be going it alone in Negeri Sembilan, with its remaining candidates expected to come from coalition partners.
Fresh from its commanding victory in the Johor state election, Barisan Nasional (BN) has signalled that it will contest the upcoming Negeri Sembilan polls as part of an electoral understanding with other parties rather than on its own.
The coalition unveiled 25 candidates for the 36-seat Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly on Wednesday night, leaving 11 constituencies to be filled by its yet-to-be-announced allies.
BN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who also chairs the coalition in Negeri Sembilan, declined to reveal the identity of BN’s electoral partners but ruled out any cooperation with PKR.
“We will enter the Negeri Sembilan state election with an understanding with friends. But don’t worry, we will not reach an understanding in Linggi.
“We will only work with friends we can trust,” Mohamad, who is also the Umno deputy president and Foreign Minister, was quoted as saying by FMT.
His reference to Linggi was widely seen as a swipe at caretaker Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, who is contesting the seat, leaving the Sikamat seat which he had represented since first winning it in the 2008 general election.
Mohamad made the remarks during BN’s candidate announcement ceremony at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Seremban.
Speculation has been rife that BN could reach an electoral understanding with several Perikatan Nasional (PN) component parties, particularly PAS and Parti Wawasan Negara, following informal cooperation seen during the recent Johor state election.
While such an arrangement did not formally materialise in Johor, PN contested only 33 of the 56 seats, with PAS instructing its members and supporters to back BN candidates in constituencies where PN was absent.
The strategy appeared to pay off, with BN securing a resounding 48-seat victory, leaving Pakatan Harapan (PH) with just eight seats.
BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the remaining 11 seats will be allocated to the coalition’s electoral partners, with an official announcement expected later tonight.
Polling for the Negeri Sembilan state election is scheduled for Aug 1.
BN candidates announced
Constituency
Candidate
Chennah
Siow Kong Choon
Pertang
Jalaluddin Alias
Sungai Lui
Mohd Razi Mohd Ali
Palong
Mustapha Nagoor
Jeram Padang
Mohd Zaidy Abdul Kadir
Bahau
Chong Fui Ming
Lenggeng
Mohd Asna Amin
Nilai
Lai Chien Kong
Temiang
Leaw Kok Chan
Juasseh
Ismail Lassim
Seri Menanti
Muhammad Sufian Maradzi
Senaling
Mohamad Qayyum Abd Jalil
Pilah
Suzlyana Mahayuddin
Johol
Saiful Yazan Sulaiman
Labu
Siti Nur Umaira Hasim
Rahang
Yap Siok Moy
Seremban Jaya
Thinalan T. Rajagopalu
Chembong
Zaifulbahri Idris
Rantau
Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan
Kota
Suhaimi Aini
Chuah
Pau Jeou Ching
Linggi
Mohd Faizal Ramli
Sri Tanjung
Achuthan Alagan
Gemencheh
Suhaimizan Bizar
Repah
Koh Kim Swee
In the 2023 Negeri Sembilan state election, PH won 17 seats followed by BN (15 seats) and PN (five seats).
