00:00An analyst has highlighted seven marginal seats that could determine the outcome of the Johor
00:06State election next month, having been won with slim majorities in the 2022 polls.
00:12The seats identified include Bukit Batu, Tangkak and Jementa, which were won by Pakatan Harapan,
00:19followed by Bukit Pasir, Parit Yani and Serum, secured by Barisan Nasional,
00:24while Bukit Kepung was taken by Perikatan Nasional.
00:28Ilham Centre Executive Director Hisamuddin Baka said the marginal victories meant that no party
00:34had a comfortable edge in these constituencies, making them key battlegrounds.
00:39He said low turnout in Johor would benefit BN due to its strong network and core supporters,
00:45while a 70% to 75% turnout would favour PH through the mobilisation of non-Malay,
00:52young and progressive Malay voters.
00:55Hisamuddin said the biggest challenge in the seven seats was wooing first-time youth voters
01:00who lack traditional loyalties but are growing in number and could emerge as kingmakers.
01:06Maslan Ali of University Technology Malaysia said marginal seats like the seven were still too close
01:12to call, adding that the situation now differs from 2022, when many outstationed voters did not return
01:19to Johor due to the COVID-19 pandemic, causing turnout to fall to about 54%.
01:24In comparison, voter turnout during the general election stood at around 75% in Johor,
01:31tipping the balance to PH as it won 13 parliamentary seats in the state compared with BN's nine.
01:36Tanusha Manogaran FMT
Comments