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BARISAN Nasional (BN) is banking on its electoral cooperation with Perikatan Nasional (PN) and renewed support from Felda voters to strengthen its bid to regain Negeri Sembilan, with the coalition projecting victory in 25 of the state's 36 seats.
UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the BN-PN electoral understanding would prevent the Malay vote from being split, giving the alliance a stronger chance of forming the next state government.
"Here in Negeri Sembilan, I do not want to make an exact prediction, but it is possible that 25 seats will belong to BN-PN. My confidence is that BN will govern Negeri Sembilan," he told reporters at the Communications Ministry Media Centre on Tuesday.
Ahmad, who is also Deputy Works Minister, said the alliance was a strategic move to avoid three-cornered contests that had previously benefited Pakatan Harapan (PH).
"Previously, PH came out ahead because the Malay vote was divided. In Malay-majority constituencies, the Malay vote was split and, as a result, PH won.
"Therefore, BN has reached the conclusion and adopted a tactical approach to ensure that the Malay vote is not divided. We are contesting only 25 seats, while our PN partners are contesting 11. If we were to compete against each other everywhere, the Malay vote would be split and PH would win," he said.
On BN's election manifesto, Ahmad said the coalition was in the final stages of finalising its pledges and remained confident its proposals would surpass those offered by PH.
"We are in the final stages of completing it. In Johor, we launched ours first; here, they launched theirs first.
"It does not matter who goes first. What matters is the substance. I am confident that the contents of BN's manifesto will be better than PH's manifesto," he said.
He said BN's manifesto would focus on employment opportunities, education, skills training, housing, racial harmony and strengthening Islamic affairs.
Meanwhile, former Felda chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the votes of Felda settlers could once again prove decisive in Negeri Sembilan, pointing to the coalition's improved performance in Johor as evidence of growing support.
He said the approximately 16,000 registered voters from Felda settlements across nine state constituencies could significantly influence the election outcome.
"If that level of cooperation can be achieved, it would be a game changer," he said.
Shabery said support for BN had returned across all generations of Felda settlers during the Johor state election after earlier signs of fragmentation caused by UMNO's internal political turmoil.
"In the past, the first generation of settlers largely remained loyal, but we saw challenges among the second, third and fourth generations of voters.
"However, during the Johor election, support returned across all generations," he said, expressing confidence the trend would be replicated in Negeri Sembilan.
He noted that although many second- and third-generation settlers now live outside Felda schemes, they remain registered voters who frequently return to cast their ballots.
"These younger generations may have drifted away from Umno previously, but with the current political alignment, they have more options.
"They may decide to return to Barisan," he said.
Shabery added that younger Felda families are now more concerned with housing, education and employment opportunities than the debts faced by the pioneer generation.
"The second and third generations are no longer burdened by settlers' loans. Their concerns are different," he said, adding that housing opportunities would be among the key issues shaping voting decisions.
However, Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Azmin Ali argued that Felda voters should remember that it was the Bersatu-led Federal Government that resolved RM8.3 billion in settlers' loan obligations.
Azmin said the initiative was undertaken during the Pakatan Harapan administration in 2018 while he headed the Economic Planning Unit (EPU).
"We pushed for the settlement of the settlers' loans because many of them did not understand why they owed such large amounts," he said, adding that many settlers had outstanding debts of between RM90,000 and RM120,000.
He said the Felda White Paper extended beyond debt restructuring by proposing measures to address the housing needs of second- and third-generation Felda families, with many of the recommendations later implemented under the administration of former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Perikatan Nasional deputy chairman Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said support for PN among Felda voters had grown steadily in several states, particularly Pahang, Terengganu and Selangor.
"Based on the trend from the 14th and 15th General Elections, Felda voters have shifted towards supporting Perikatan, particularly in Pahang, Terengganu and Selangor.
"In Negeri Sembilan, Perikatan is expected to gain stronger backing, especially from second- and third-generation Felda settlers, who are more exposed to current issues and more open in their political views.
"Their perspectives are shaped by wider access to information and changing social circumstances," he said.
Tuan Ibrahim added that the political understanding between BN and PN had been well received by voters and would strengthen confidence in Perikatan's candidates during the state election. - July 22, 2026
