Johor votes in 56-seat state election with turnout above 67%
Why it matters: The result will test whether Barisan Nasional can hold its 2022 dominance against Pakatan Harapan and smaller reformist parties.
Voters in Malaysia's Johor state cast ballots Saturday in a closely watched election for all 56 state assembly seats, with turnout reaching 67.4% by 5 p.m., well above the roughly 50% recorded in the 2022 poll. Voting at 1,076 polling centers closed at 6 p.m., and results were expected from about 10 p.m. Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan each fielded candidates in every seat, even though both are part of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's federal unity government. The campaign centered on living costs, housing affordability and delays to the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone master plan. Analysts also watched whether smaller parties such as MUDA and Bersama could cut into Pakatan Harapan's urban support.