Johor DAP Saddened by Marina Ibrahim’s Decision to Retire From Politics

KUALA LUMPUR, June, 2026 — Johor DAP has expressed sadness over the decision by Skudai assemblywoman Marina Ibrahim to retire from politics and not contest in the upcoming Johor state election.

Johor DAP chairman Teo Nie Ching said the party respects Marina’s decision, but admitted that the announcement was received with a heavy heart. She described Marina as a dedicated leader who had shown strong commitment throughout her political journey with DAP.

Teo, who is also the Deputy Communications Minister and Kulai MP, said Marina had contributed meaningfully to the party since joining DAP in 2017. Marina’s political work began at the grassroots level in Kulai as a member of the DAP Indahpura branch before she was appointed as a councillor at the Kulai Municipal Council in 2018.

Marina was later selected as DAP’s candidate for the Skudai state seat in the March 2022 Johor state election. She won the seat with 26,359 votes, defeating Barisan Nasional’s Lim Soon Hai, who obtained 12,416 votes, and Perikatan Nasional’s Khoo Keng Ek, who received 6,258 votes.

According to Teo, Marina had proven herself as a hardworking and committed representative, including in areas that were not traditionally considered DAP strongholds. She said Marina’s performance as an elected representative had helped build her reputation as a capable leader.

Teo explained that the party’s decision to field Marina in Skudai was part of a long-term political strategy. The aim was to help Marina build her service record and reputation before entrusting her with a broader role in helping DAP expand its influence beyond its traditional support base.

She also confirmed that Johor Pakatan Harapan has started seat allocation negotiations ahead of the next Johor state election. Although discussions are still ongoing, Teo said there is a strong possibility that DAP will contest an urban seat that Pakatan Harapan had previously won in the 2018 general election.

The party leadership had viewed Marina as one of the most suitable candidates to take on that strategic mission. Teo said the matter had been explained to Marina in detail during previous discussions.

However, Teo also expressed regret if any discussion related to Johor state election strategy had caused discomfort or hurt Marina’s feelings. She said it was her responsibility as Johor DAP chairman to formulate the best strategy for the party and Pakatan Harapan ahead of the polls.

Marina announced earlier on May 31 that she would withdraw from politics and would not defend her Skudai seat in the coming Johor state election. She said the decision was made after discussions with people close to her, including her supporters.

The 38-year-old said her decision marked the end of her political journey after serving one term as the state assemblywoman for Skudai. She also said she would not seek any other elected position.

In her statement, Marina said she entered politics with a simple intention to serve the people and had done her best throughout her four years in office. She thanked voters, supporters and her team members for standing with her through both successes and challenges.

Marina said that although her political chapter had ended, her service to society would continue. She expressed her intention to return to community-based work, which she described as a long-standing passion even before entering politics.

She also said she would continue performing her duties on the ground until a new representative is elected, while expressing hope that Skudai would continue to develop and its residents would remain well served.

Teo, meanwhile, thanked Marina for her service and said she hoped their good relationship and cooperation would continue in other ways for the benefit of the community and the country.

The development comes as political parties in Johor begin preparing for the next state election. Seat negotiations, candidate selection and coalition strategy are expected to become key issues as Pakatan Harapan and its partners prepare for a competitive contest.

Marina’s withdrawal may require DAP to review its candidate strategy in Skudai and other potential seats. As an incumbent representative, her decision not to defend the seat creates an opening for the party to consider a new candidate while also managing local voter sentiment.

Her departure is also significant because it comes at a time when Johor politics remains closely watched. The state is expected to be an important battleground for Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional, especially as each coalition seeks to strengthen its position before future national polls.

For DAP, Marina’s exit represents both a political and organisational challenge. The party will need to maintain support in Skudai while also continuing its broader plan to expand beyond its traditional urban base.

At the same time, Teo’s statement shows that Johor DAP is trying to balance two matters: respecting Marina’s personal decision and explaining the party’s election strategy to supporters.

For now, Marina’s decision marks the end of her formal role in electoral politics, but both Marina and DAP have indicated that public service and community work may continue in other forms.

The coming Johor state election will determine how DAP and Pakatan Harapan respond to the vacancy created by Marina’s withdrawal, and whether the party can retain voter confidence in Skudai without its incumbent assemblywoman.