State Poll Dates Announced
EC Announces July 11 Johor, August 1 Negeri Sembilan Poll Dates
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Key Points
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The EC said it fixed a two-week campaign period for the Johor state election after setting nomination day for June 27.
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Before the EC timelines were announced, Johor’s state assembly (56 seats) was dissolved on June 1 after Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi obtained consent from the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail.
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Negeri Sembilan’s state assembly (36 seats) was dissolved on June 5 after Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun announced the dissolution on June 4 with consent from the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.
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The EC’s special meeting to set the election timetable was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at EC headquarters/EC Tower in Putrajaya, with Ramlan Harun chairing, and would be followed by a press conference.
Malaysia's Election Commission has set July 11 as polling day for Johor and August 1 for Negeri Sembilan, following the dissolution of both state assemblies within days of each other. EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun announced the dates at a press conference after chairing a special meeting at EC Tower in Putrajaya on June 12. The two polls will draw more than 3.6 million eligible voters across Malaysia's southern states. The Star reported the combined cost of running both elections at roughly RM167 million.
Johor's 56-seat assembly was dissolved on June 1 after Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi got consent from the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail. Four days later, Negeri Sembilan's 36-seat assembly followed suit, with Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun confirming the dissolution on June 5, according to Malay Mail.
Full Election Timetables for Both States
For Johor, nomination day is June 27, early voting falls on July 7, and the main polling day is July 11. Postal voting began as early as June 5. The campaign period runs 14 days, from nomination day through July 10. According to CNA, the Johor election will deploy around 43,000 personnel across more than 1,000 polling centres, at a cost of RM86.8 million (about US$21.4 million). A total of 2,727,926 voters are registered in the state.
For Negeri Sembilan, nomination day is July 18, early voting is July 28, and polling day is August 1. The campaign window also runs 14 days. The state has 889,490 eligible voters, and the EC plans to deploy around 15,000 personnel, The Star reported. Running the Negeri Sembilan election is expected to cost RM80.6 million. A party needs 19 of 36 seats for a majority, while Johor requires 29 of 56.
Why the Two Elections Were Not Held Together
The EC chose staggered dates rather than simultaneous polls. Chairman Ramlan Harun cited "logistical concerns" and the need for "trained personnel" as the main reasons. He explained that the sudden dissolution of Negeri Sembilan's assembly meant only ballot boxes were ready, making it necessary to first run the Johor election and then shift teams south, according to The Star.
Critics pushed back. Opposition voices and some Pakatan Harapan leaders said separate dates were a tactical move that lets federal machinery focus on one state at a time, favouring incumbent state governments. Analyst Ben Suffian of Merdeka Centre noted that BN and PH potentially running against each other in Johor — while governing together at the federal level — creates a "confusing narrative" for voters, CNA reported.
Political Crises That Triggered the Early Polls
Neither dissolution was routine. In Negeri Sembilan, 14 UMNO assemblymen withdrew support for Aminuddin Harun in April 2026, leaving him leading a minority government. The move was linked to a dispute in which four territorial chiefs, known as Undangs, sought to remove the state's ruler. The four Undangs have since publicly objected to the dissolution, calling it premature and demanding a reversal, according to The Star.
Johor's early election followed its own controversy. In May 2026, the state assembly passed a bill allowing five non-elected members to be appointed. PH leaders criticised the move as a way for BN to build power without winning votes. Onn Hafiz went further, publicly declaring that Johor BN would "not work with DAP" — even though DAP is part of the federal unity government that BN co-leads, as reported by The Star.
High Stakes: A Test for Anwar and Federal Unity
Both polls are widely seen as early tests of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's government. Analyst Leslie Lopez framed the elections as "unintended referendums" on Anwar's leadership, with losses in these traditional strongholds potentially destabilising the federal coalition, according to CNA. Anwar himself admitted he "would have preferred Johor to delay its state election" to keep the focus on national economic issues.
BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has signalled a bigger shift. He said BN is likely to "contest the next general election alone," and is using these state polls as a test run for a so-called "blue wave" comeback. If BN performs strongly in Johor while running solo, it could speed up the breakdown of the BN-PH federal alliance well ahead of the next general election, CNA reported.
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