Expect Umno to dominate in Johor polls, say analysts

[superadmin]

PETALING JAYA: Analysts expect the upcoming elections in Johor to play out much like the polls in Melaka, with Umno – and Barisan Nasional by extension – likely to secure a dominant victory in the state it was born.

Yesterday, Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar signed the notice to dissolve the state assembly after granting an audience to menteri besar Hasni Mohammad, paving the way for the elections to be held sometime before March 23.

Azmi Hassan, a senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research, said he expected a big win for Umno owing not only to the party’s strength but also the weakness of rivals like Bersatu, PKR, DAP and PAS.

“The party that will lose most critically in Johor will be Bersatu,” he told FMT.

“They face an uphill battle if they go against Umno, which seems likely.

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