Snap polls in Malaysia’s Johor test Umno comeback bid and Anwar’s ruling alliance

Snap polls in Malaysia’s Johor test Umno comeback bid and Anwar’s ruling allianceThe state contest is set to pit federal partners PH and BN against each other despite their power-sharing pact in Putrajaya4-MIN READ4-MIN0ListenPublished: 8:29pm, 1 Jun 2026Updated: 8:32pm, 1 Jun 2026Malaysia’s southern state of Johor dissolved its legislature on Monday, setting up an election within 60 days that analysts said would test whether the once-dominant Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition can turn its state stronghold into a launch pad for a wider political comeback.The vote will also put Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) reformist alliance in an awkward contest against its federal partner BN, with both coalitions set to run against each other in Johor despite sharing power in Putrajaya.PH and BN became uneasy allies after Malaysia’s 2022 general election produced a hung parliament, joining forces to keep the Perikatan Nasional (PN) opposition bloc out of power and give Anwar the numbers to form a government, despite decades as bitter rivals.Solar energy brightens futures for Malaysian villagersJohor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced the dissolution at a brief press conference after an audience with Tunku Mahkota Ismail, the Regent of Johor, saying royal consent had been granted to dissolve the 15th Johor state assembly with immediate effect.