Johor BN aims to win 17 parliamentary seats - Ahmad Maslan

Johor BN is aiming to wrest 17 out of 26 parliamentary seats in the southern state, three fewer than the goal set by the coalition’s central leaders.

The number remains more than double the eight seats won by Johor BN in GE14.

Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan in an interview with online portal Free Malaysia Today said Johor BN is confident of wresting seats it had lost, although he reportedly declined to reveal further details.

“Of the 26 parliamentary seats in Johor, the election director (Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan) has set out (to win) 20 seats.

“But at the state level, there is another (lower) figure of 17 seats, not 20,” said the incumbent Pontian MP.

Ahmad, who is also Pontian Umno deputy chief, said the targets were set based on BN’s stellar performance during the March Johor state election, forming the government with a supermajority.

Historically dubbed as a BN bastion state, Pakatan Harapan had in GE14 taken over the Johor state government with a slim two-seat majority before eventually falling to defections.

Johor BN’s comeback in the state polls led by then menteri besar Hasni Mohammad saw the coalition winning 40 of the 56 state seats.

At the federal level, Johor BN won eight seats in GE14, down from 21 seats in GE13.

The seats are Sembrong, Pontian, Mersing, Pengerang, Tenggara, Parit Sulong, Kota Tinggi, and Ayer Hitam - seven of which are strongholds held by incumbent ministers.

Mersing MP Abdul Latiff Ahmad had defected to Bersatu in Feb 2019, while BN secured an additional seat through MCA’s Wee Jeck Seng in the Tanjung Piai by-election.

Johor BN led by Hasni is expected to announce the coalition’s candidates list on Wednesday, ahead of official nominations on Nov 5.

Anwar has final say on candidates, not me - Rafizi

Rapper Altimet grooves to the political beat

Report: Muhyiddin more popular than Zahid

GE15: Harapan to contest 14 Kedah parliamentary seats, leaves Langkawi unnamed

Prioritise Bersatu's crusade, Peja advises veep against drastic decisions

PKR rep: Rakyat had a say in Kajang and PD moves