JOHOR BARU, June 1 — All eyes are on Johor today amid speculation that the state assembly could be dissolved.

According to the New Straits Times, Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi is scheduled to hold a special press conference at his official residence at 5pm.

The announcement, eagerly awaited across the political divide, is expected to pave the way for state polls.

MORE TO COME

JOHOR BAHRU, June 2 — Official notification of the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly (DUN) was submitted to the Election Commission (EC) today, confirmed Johor State Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi.

The notice was submitted to formally inform the EC of the dissolution of the Johor State Assembly, which received the consent of Johor Regent Tunku Mahkota Ismail on June 1.

The EC had previously announced that it would convene a special meeting to discuss key dates for the Johor state election as soon as it received official notification of the assembly’s dissolution from the Speaker.

The meeting is expected to determine important dates for the state election, including nomination day, the campaign period and polling day.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced the dissolution of the state assembly yesterday after receiving the consent of the Johor Regent.

The state election must be held within 60 days from the effective date of the dissolution. — Bernama

JOHOR BAHRU, June 1 — The Johor state legislative assembly has been dissolved, paving the way for the state’s upcoming election.

Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced the dissolution after obtaining the consent of Johor Regent Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sultan Ibrahim earlier today.

He said the move would allow the people of Johor to elect a new state government and secure a mandate to continue the state’s development agenda.

“The Election Commission will ensure the necessary steps to determine the dates for nomination, early voting and polling for the 16th Johor state election,” he said in a brief special media conference held at the Johor Menteri Besar’s official residence in Saujana here today.

Onn Hafiz, who is also the Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman and state Umno chief, was accompanied by the state legislative assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi.

In attendance was also the incumbent ruling assemblyman during the announcement.

The Johor state legislative assembly, which has 56 seats, is scheduled to end its term on April 21 next year. 

Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced the dissolution after obtaining the consent of Johor Regent Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sultan Ibrahim earlier today. — Bernama pic

Under the provisions of the legislation, the EC is given up to 60 days after the dissolution of the state assembly to hold the election.

The previous Johor state election was held in March 2022. At that time, BN, led by its lynchpin party Umno, formed the state government after winning a supermajority of 40 of the 56 contested state assembly seats.

Pakatan Harapan (PH) won 12 seats with DAP obtaining 10 seats, while PKR and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) won one seat each.

Perikatan Nasional (PN) won three seats, while the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) obtained one seat.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — Muda will defend the Puteri Wangsa state seat held by its president, Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz, in the upcoming Johor state election.

In a statement today, the party said its victory in Puteri Wangsa previously showed that voters in Johor were open to a new style of politics based on integrity, courage and a strong commitment to public service.

Muda said it would also be fielding more young candidates whom it described as capable, credible and experienced in community work, as part of its effort to offer voters a wider choice.

The party added that it would announce its full slate of candidates and policy agenda in the coming weeks, aimed at ensuring Johor voters’ voices continue to be represented.

Muda said it believes more young people should be given the opportunity to take on leadership roles and participate directly in decision-making at the state level.

It added that Johor is a dynamic state with significant potential, but said current challenges require more than traditional politics or familiar faces.

The party said the state needed leaders who understand the aspirations of a new generation, are willing to push for reform, and are prepared to defend the interests of the people.

Muda added that the 16th Johor state election is not merely about politics or power, but about the future direction of the state and the next generation.

It said the election would be an important moment for voters to assess the performance of the current administration, demand accountability, and decide Johor’s direction for the next five years.

The Johor state assembly was dissolved yesterday, paving the way for the state election.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced the dissolution after receiving consent from the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail.

Puteri Wangsa is currently the only seat held by Muda following its cooperation with Pakatan Harapan in the previous state election.

The party also contested in five other seats — Tenang, Bukit Kepong, Parit Raja, Machap and Bukit Permai — but did not win any of them.

ALOR SETAR, June 7 — Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor is not giving up the state’s decision to stop issuing and renewing number-betting outlet licences, despite losing the case at the Court of Appeal.

He said the state will pursue the legal battle all the way to the Federal Court, The Star reported today.

“We are not giving up and will bring this case to the highest court. We have already started the process to go to the Federal Court,” he was quoted as saying.

Sanusi said the state had anticipated the outcome, although the full written judgment was only recently released.

On June 2, the Court of Appeal released its written grounds for a December ruling that Kedah could not impose a blanket ban on lottery and betting businesses solely on policy objections to gambling.

The majority decision held that state powers were confined to matters under the Federal Constitution’s Ninth Schedule and the Local Government Act.

The court said licensing decisions must be tied to premises conditions such as safety, sanitation and public nuisance, not general opposition to gambling activities.

It also noted that some operators had been operating at the same premises for decades.

The Federal Court is scheduled to hear Kedah’s application for leave to appeal on August 12.

Kedah’s dispute began after Sanusi announced in November 2021 that the state would stop issuing and renewing gambling outlet licences.

The decision was challenged by gambling and lottery operators, leading to a 2024 High Court ruling that the ban was unlawful, which was later upheld by the Court of Appeal in December 2025.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 — DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke fired back at Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) chief Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi after the latter declared he would rather resign than cooperate with DAP in forming the next Johor state government.

The exchange erupted after Onn Hafiz declared during the launch of the party’s election machinery in EduCity, Iskandar Puteri earlier today that “I would rather not hold the position of Menteri Besar than have to sit at the same table with them. This is the spirit of Johor, Bangsa Johor”. 

“You don’t want to sit at the same table with DAP…… Great! Keep up your arrogance,” Loke responded on Facebook, in a post that has since gone viral.

“But your president sits next to the DAP secretary-general every week, right… just so you know… thank you!” he added, in a pointed reminder that at the federal level, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi sits alongside DAP leaders in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Cabinet.

The war of words underscores the widening gap between federal and state political realities in Johor. 

While DAP and Umno are coalition partners in the unity government, Onn Hafiz has made clear that the arrangement does not extend to Johor.

Onn Hafiz insisted his stance was not driven by racial sentiment, as some have alleged, but rooted in Johor’s unique multiracial identity under the Bangsa Johor concept. 

He also claimed BN Johor has never sat at the same table with DAP, though he acknowledged that a previous menteri besar from Bersatu had done so.

The Johor legislative assembly was dissolved on June 1, paving the way for a state election that must be held within 60 days.

This round, BN is seeking a stronger mandate than its 2022 state election performance and has pledged to contest all 56 seats.

Onn Hafiz, who is caretaker menteri besar, has pledged to continue the Bantuan Kasih Johor assistance scheme if BN retains power.

At the time of dissolution, the division in the legislative assembly had BN holding 40 seats, followed by Pakatan Harapan (12), Perikatan Nasional (three), and Muda (one).