Pakatan Harapan's Losses in Negeri Sembilan and Johor State Elections Weaken Coalition

In the recent Negeri Sembilan state election, Pakatan Harapan (PH) suffered a major setback when its senior leader Aminuddin Harun lost the Linggi seat to Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Faizal Ramli. The defeat also saw DAP secretary‑general Loke Siew Fook and other PH figures lose their constituencies, reducing PH to 11 seats while the BN‑Perikatan Nasional alliance secured 25.

Analysts said the results reinforce the view that PKR is struggling to attract Malay‑majority, rural and semi‑urban voters, and that UMNO’s stronger showing will give it greater leverage in the federal unity coalition. Political scientist Awang Azman Pawi warned the loss could affect negotiations over seats and leadership ahead of the next general election. Former PKR Johor chairman Hassan Abdul Karim attributed the setbacks to a “Malay tsunami,” noting that Malay voters in both Negeri Sembilan and Johor have largely shifted their support to UMNO, BN and PN, leaving PH with minimal Malay backing.