Johor Polls: Low Voter Turnout No Longer Guarantees BN Advantage, Says Jafni

KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 2026 — Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Bukit Permai state seat, Datuk Jafni Md Shukor, has dismissed the theory that a low voter turnout would automatically benefit BN in the Johor State Election.

Jafni, who is defending the Bukit Permai seat, said the idea is no longer relevant because voters today are more focused on evaluating the performance and effectiveness of the Johor state government over the past four years. According to him, voters are no longer making decisions based only on political sentiment, but are also looking at the government’s track record in solving daily issues faced by the people.

He said the Johor state government has practised a working approach known as 3T and 1M over the last four years, with elected representatives and the Menteri Besar frequently going to the ground whenever public issues arise. Jafni said the approach reflects teamwork between state assemblymen, state agencies, federal agencies and utility providers such as Tenaga Nasional Berhad and SAJ to resolve problems more effectively.

Jafni added that the state leadership also practises micromanagement, where leaders personally monitor local issues such as drainage, floods, streetlights and other matters that directly affect residents. He said these are the types of issues that are close to the people, and BN is confident that voters will judge the coalition based on its performance during the previous term.

In Bukit Permai, Jafni described the current election battle as mainly a contest between BN and Pakatan Harapan (PH), despite the presence of other candidates. He said the situation can be seen from the level of support shown during nomination day. According to him, Bersatu supporters had turned up in larger numbers in the previous election, but the situation this time appeared different.

Jafni said the same trend can also be observed in nearby seats under the Kulai parliamentary area, including Bukit Batu and Senai. He believes the main challenge for BN in these areas is PH, rather than the other parties contesting in the election.

Commenting on the state government’s performance, Jafni said Johor’s increased revenue has allowed the government to return more assistance and initiatives to the people. He said Johor’s state revenue stood at RM1.6 billion four years ago and increased annually before reaching RM2.67 billion last year.

He said the additional revenue, amounting to nearly RM1 billion, has enabled the state government to channel more aid back to the people through various assistance programmes. Jafni stressed that the real measurement of a successful government is not political rhetoric, but how far the people can feel the benefits of government policies.

He said voters today are more concerned about what they receive and experience in their daily lives, especially as the cost of living remains a major concern. According to him, the Johor government has introduced assistance to help people pay house rent, buy schoolbooks for their children and support spending at small businesses.

In the 2022 Johor State Election, Jafni won the Bukit Permai seat with a majority of 4,755 votes in a four-cornered contest. Bukit Permai is one of three state seats under the Kulai parliamentary constituency, alongside Senai and Bukit Batu.

This time, Jafni is again facing a four-cornered fight against Mohamad Shafwan Ani of Pakatan Harapan, M. Lina Manoh of Perikatan Nasional and Muhammad Aidil Riduan Mohd Yusof of Parti Bersama Malaysia. Despite acknowledging strong pressure in the contest, Jafni said he remains confident that Johor voters will give BN another mandate to continue governing the state.