By M.Krishnamoorthy
A former Associate Professor, author, media coach, and journalist
PART 1
There could be more than 101 reasons with 2.7 million registered voters in Johor as to why Pakatan Harapan (PH) lost most of the seats in the State elections. Part 2 of this article touches on reasons why about 60 per cent of the voters could have voted more for BN.
It is time for soul-searching. If Malaysia wants to survive and thrive, we must invest in what truly empowers us:
* Celebrate our racial differences in peace and harmony
* Don’t use race to campaign for voters
* Remember, No Race or Religion, is greater than any other
* We have NO choice in where, when and who we are born to, race or religion-wise
* Quality non-discriminatory education reforms are needed
* Entrepreneurship and business networks should be promoted without discrimination
* Build cultural and community institutions that unite, and not divide
As a journalist, author of books and academician, I have heard a lot of feedback and reasons why PH lost most of its seats.
From the list (not in any order), there are several reasons, and this is not a scientific survey. It is more of a coffee-shop talk, with some glaring reasons that helped in the Barisan Nasional landslide victory.
The voters judged the state government on delivery, the federal government on leadership and national policies, and political parties on who they believed best represented their interests.
Of course, the election campaigns played a crucial role, and no one knows what moved voters to decide as they did.
The enthusiasm for PMX Anwar Ibrahim in campaigns did not necessarily translate into support for Pakatan Harapan candidates. There was confusion over where the responsibilities of the state government ended and those of the federal government began.
Alongside Perikatan’s fragmentation, this separation enabled UMNO to win back a significant portion of its Malay base without alienating Chinese and Indian voters. MB Onn Hafiz’s administration had given space to leaders from Barisan component parties, the Malaysian Chinese Association and the Malaysian Indian Congress.
Ultimately, Barisan’s success rested on its governance record under a hands-on MB. Johor beat Harapan-run Selangor to clock in the highest GDP growth in 2024 and a record RM110 billion in approved investment in 2025. While water supply, public transport infrastructure and the widening income gap remained problematic, Johor’s broad, if limited, social assistance programme and Onn’s engagement with Johoreans on the ground won him wide acceptance.
ends
Freelance Writer M. Krishnamoorthy (https://helloimkrishna.com/) is a media coach, former Associate Professor, and undercover journalist. He has freelanced with Bernama, NST, The Star, and Malaysiakini. He also freelances as a fixer/coordinator for CNN, BBC, German, and Australian Television networks, and the New York Times. As an undercover journalist, he has highlighted society's concerns.
Here are some reasons why some Malaysians think they are right. Be assured that these reasons are just feedback for political parties to consider, so they can review their policies and actions and be seen as listening to the people.
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