PH, BN, PN, BERSAMA, PSM, Independants in 2026 > WHO should we support?
Parti Orang Asli Malaysia (Asli) has made its first election appearance by fielding a candidate for the Endau state seat in the 16th Johor state election.- Malay Mail, 27/6/2026
Muda and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) have formed a political cooperation dubbed the “progressive bloc” ahead of the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections. - FMT, 15/6/2026
ASLI contesting 1, MUDA 4, PSM 1, Independents 6 and BERSAMA contesting 15 seats - that is other than the BIG BOYS -PH,BN and PN. Should VOTERS consider voting these other parties - to maybe have a more effective OPPOSITION? BUT look at the candidates FIRST - do they have a HISTORY of speaking up and fighting - we do not 'SEAT WARMERS' who simply take their pay/allowance and not act as peoples' representative - compromised sometimes by THREATS and rewards.. Some people make GOOD ADUNS - some just want to be ADUNs? CHOOSE WISELY...
BN - are the people still angry of the BETRAYAL of BN - Najib, 1MDB and many other persons who violated the people's trust - and caused SO MUCH Money to be lost? Najib and Isa Samad....
Najib was ordered in the 1MDB trial to serve 15 years’ of jail time simultaneously; and was fined RM11.38 billion for power abuse, and fined a separate RM2.08 billion for money laundering. - Malay Mail, 16/6/2026In the past, many people supported and voted parties that were in power at the Federal Government/State government - because some wanted to avoid being 'discriminated' by whoever that ends up in power - they wanted to get a chance to buy a 'low cost' house, get land, scholarship for my children, admission into special schools/universities, get welfare assistance, even get some small contracts, vote because I got some monies, vote because it is my ethnic/religion party...
Was that not WHY BN won the Johor State Elections in early 2022 because then the Federal Government was a PN government, and it included BN? Things changed in GE15, when PH won 14, BN 9, PN 2, and MUDA 1. In the previous State Elections BN won 40, PH 12 and MUDA 1. If the Johor State elections happened after GE15, the results will be different?
In this upcoming Johor State election, it is the MADANI government led by PH - but wait, BN is also part of this coalition government - even the Deputy Prime Minister is BN. Thus, if the same logic applies, BN and PH has good chances. BUT THEN, there is been a growing disappointment with PM Anwar's MADANI government - and this means come GE16, there is the possibility that the No.2 in GE15 may now emerge as No.1. PAS still has an 'upper hand' as there is NO PAS person who has been charged in court for corruption and abuse of power offences??
Can BN be part of the MADANI government at the Federal level - and be the State Government on its own? YES, it can... Federal Government includes BN out of necessity - no option for Anwar and PH then. NOTE if BN, like PN, said NO to PH then to forming a coalition government. Most likely, PN led coalition would have formed the Federal Government, and BN and the politicians from Sabah and Sarawak may have been part of that government.
PH seems too worried to face GE16 and upcoming State Elections alone, it seems, and rightly so - because of the many U-turns on the REFORMASI promises..then we have the Azam Baki issue, the pig farming issue, the GISBH, the FIFA scandal - still no charged for forging documents and issue of citizenship raises some issue, LYNAS -10 year license, the non-repeal of SEDITION ACT and other draconian laws, recent Guidelines about places of non-Muslim worship, the MADANI Mosque and related issues, the 'killing' of the IPCMC, the U-tun on Local Council Elections, the fact that PM Anwar is still Finance Minister, and many other issues... WHAT exactly has the Anwar Ibrahim's PH-led coalition done that is significant? Sabah Election was bad for PH as its candidates even from DAP was rejected > will this be the case in JOHOR and other upcoming elections.
The people mustered courage to OUST BN and to give PH a chance at governing..and the 'promises not kept'(Janji Tak DiTepati) is massive. Many people have given up on political parties - whoever gets into power CHANGES and betrays the PEOPLE. The 'DESIRE FOR CHANGES' was the reason PH was given a CHANCE which PH wasted.
VOTED because that party has experience in governing but others did not..but today, this reasoning do not work > as PH and even PN(PAS and others) already had the experience of governing at Federal level > and there was no 'catastrophe' that followed > so, any can govern > only issue then is REFORMS and policy/stance on fundamental issue
Barisan Nasional(BN) was finally OUSTED by an angry Malaysia > because of the betrayal of peoples' trust when Prime Minister Najib and the 1MDB issue was raised. People wanted their peoples' representative(voted by people into power) to be acting for and on behalf of the people - thus when the PM and Ministers got implicated in this 'BREACH of People's Trust' that resulted in 'theft' or LOSS of peoples' monies about RM50Billion plus...The anger erupted, and the people lashed out against the Barisan Nasional - and Pakatan Harapan(that promised REFORMS) were chosen to govern. The anger against BN did not subside after GE14, but continued to GE15 which saw BN MPs further reduced to just 30.
After GE14, there was talk of REFORM within UMNO - talk of getting the OLD leaders, some of whom still believe that Najib is INNOCENT. A reformed UMNO would have made a difference BUT alas Zahid Hamidi remains UMNO President - there was no elections again for top 2 post, this time by reason of a 'controversial motion' tabled during the General Meeting >> Most ODD because Motions always must be tabled before General Meetings, more so in parties where NOT all members can attend General Meetings - only delegates (and logically delegates that represent members must have time get instruction from members as to whether to support a Motion or NOT) ..and we remember that Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution gave UMNO an exemption - not to follow the Act and party Constitution?? Anyway, the old guard before GE14 still remains the leaders of UMNO...so BN maybe said to be the 'SAME' as before GE14 and GE15? So, will VOTERS change their mind about BN this coming elections??
As it is, there has not been much changes in leadership of BN partiesToday, UMNO is still led by the 'old' leadership who still do not admit that Najib committed crimes...It would have been a different BN, if only UMNO had changed and there were new leaders after an UMNO election at all levels including party leadership?
- the anticipated 'reforms' post GE14 did not happen...
The Federal Court dismissed his final appeal in 2022, sealing his fate. Yet Umno, under Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, refused to let go. For years, the party rallied under the slogan “Justice for Najib,” insisting he had not received a fair trial.Zahid himself demanded “fair justice” from the judiciary, while leaders and grassroots repeated the mantra long after the courts had spoken. - Malaysiakini, 29/6/2026
In the case of Zahid Hamidi, Malaysians wonder if he would have been found guilty and convicted if not for the action of the Public Prosecutor/Attorney General that discontinued the criminal trial after a PRIMA FACIE case was proven to court. Many reasonable people will take Zahid Hamidi as 'GUILTY' since prosecution already proved a PRIMA FACIE case against him. The believe the Malaysian Courts are still OK - after all, in another case, Zahid got acquitted because prosecution failed to prove a PRIMA FACIE case...
In my opinion, Zahid should have been tried until the end and then the COURT decides > now, we will never know whether a GUILTY man escaped because of the actions of the Public Prosecutor - the WHY the Public Prosecutor did what he did is most CONFUSING > in short, the REASONS for the Public Prosecutor's decision may NOT convince the PUBLIC?
PAKATAN HARAPAN - The first PH government under Mahathir. People were happy that finally the 'above the law' class was at last being investigated and charged in court - we saw Najib(former PM), Zahid Hamidi(former DPM) and many others being charged and tried for their offences. This was POSITIVE for PH - but what was disappointing was the SLOW REFORMS - the repeal of bad laws, and maybe even the 'restoration of Local Council(Government) elections - the fact that the 1st PH government was ousted from power in 22 months by reason of Sheraton Move also gave PH an 'excuse' that more time was needed for the OTHER promised reforms. The Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) Bill was also tabled, and though it was lacking the Parliamentary process of improving it was ongoing. During the 1st PH government, the Prime Minister was not also the Finance Minister - promise sticked to.
PERIKATAN NASIONAL (main party PAS) came into power with Muhyiddin as PM, and later replaced by Ismail Sabri. The COVID Pandemic which lasted until early 2022 makes it difficult to evaluate PN - as most of its time and effort was dealing with COVID-19. What people may not be happy with was the replacement of the IPCMC Bill with a new Bill for Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) - the problem was that the IPCC was just a 'sorting commission' that referred complaints back to the police to investigate and act - precisely why we needed an IPCMC to be able to investigate itself complaints about police crimes/misconduct > the people NO LONGER TRUSTED the Police themselves to investigate crimes/wrongs by police ...
PAKATAN HARAPAN-led Coalition under PM Anwar Ibrahim - Odd that PH was punished so much in GE15 - was it just because of too slow reforms, or was it because that this time the PM candidate was Anwar Ibrahim? One wonders whether PH would have done better in GE15 if the PM candidate was some other, not Anwar? If we look at PKR, there may be no good alternative candidate as somehow too many good people left PKR..
PKR alone was weak - and that was proven when PKR decided to run as PKR in the Johor State elections, whereby many PKR candidates also lost their deposit.
The strength was in Pakatan Harapan (DAP+Amanah+PKR) not in Anwar and/or PKR. But PH did not read the people's sentiments and still placed Anwar as the PM Candidate if PH won..and it failed to secure enough MPs to form government, forcing it to form a MADANI coalition with still 'peoples' enemy' BN - since PN refused to form government with PH. That move of joining BN would reasonably diminish support for PH > worse when Anwar decided to make Zahid Hamidi his DPM - noting though BN was part of the previous PN government, it took a principled stance of not including the 'court cluster' in Cabinet, which was good - similar to a principle in the Federal Constitution with regard the KING > I believe a similar principle should apply to Cabinet members..
(1) Where the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is charged with an offence under any law in the Special Court established under Part XV he shall cease to exercise the functions of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. - Art 33A Federal Constitution(which became part of our law in 1993)
PH's support would have further eroded when PH decided on an electoral pact for all by-elections, when it would have been better if PH and BN had both contested and let the people decide.
When PM Anwar chose to make himself Finance Minister - it went against PH's own promised reforms(adhered to under the 1st PH with PM Mahathir) , and worse it ENDANGERS Malaysia and we are again at RISK of new 1MDB like Scandal. If the Finance Minister was some other, then we will have the PRIME MINISTER as a 'safeguard' to prevent abuse of a Finance Minister.
In my opinion, PH's strength comes from DAP - WHY? because DAP politicians had a reputation of speaking up when there is something wrong or unjust without fear or favour > but after GE15, DAP too 'changed' and it's MPs stopped voicing their views and seem to be 100% in agreement with PM Anwar's Madani Government - this was so different compared to DAP in the 1st PH government - DAP turned to be a 'silent' supporter even when Anwar decided not to Repeal the Bad Laws, decided not to even study towards restoring Local Government Elections, to crackdown on SWATCH rainbow watches, GISBH, and even of freedom of expression and communication. DAP had gone silent > and that will impact on PH's future performance.
PM Anwar Ibrahim and PH may also bear the consequence of Najib's Pardon, the DNAA of Zahid, the withdrawal of appeal to the Court of Appeal against Zahid's Appeal, ...because for many, it seems that the 'protected class' that seem to have gone after the 1st PH rule may be back. Then there is Azam Baki, and the fact that in less than 4 years, Anwar has had 3 Attorney General/Public Prosecutors, and even concern about the judicial interference that made 1,600 lawyers march. PM Anwar attempt to narrow the definition of Islam through the Mufti Bill, the crackdown of alleged Islamic Deviants in the crackdown on GISBH, and also the recent crackdown on Shia..
A premises at Pusat Perdagangan Lagoon Perdana here was raided on Thursday in a joint enforcement operation led by the Selangor Islamic religious department (Jais) for suspected hosting of Shia activities. FMT, 27/6/2026
MALAYSIA really need to DEFINE ISLAM - is it only Sunni Islam? Should the SHIA and all other Muslim sects be legally defined as 'NON-MUSLIM'? Is SHIA illegal in Malaysia - how will that affect Malaysia's relationship with Shia led nation States like IRAN? Was the recent raid on Shia anything to do with the US/Israel - IRAN conflict > was it Malaysia showing that Malaysia is certainly against SHIA? Can the SHIA religion exist in Malaysia - if yes, there should be an END of raids against SHIA...This is my opinion.
Many Malaysians, Muslims and non-Muslims, are also concerned with PH - following the ban on pig farming in Selangor, Guidelines on places of worship, etc > This was a 'fear' in minds of many Malaysians if some Islamic party like PAS came into power - but now it is happening in PH led State with a PKR Minister. The issue of approval/building a MADANI mosque forcing the removal of an 100 year plus old Temple is also a concern. The demolition of a Rawang Temple that still has no one being charged, despite Anwar saying that it was a 'crime'. The non-charging of them employees of ERA FM that 'made fun' of an Hindu practice. Dress code when going to a police station.. These concerns will weigh on the mind of VOTERS.
How the PH Government dealt with the FIFA Scandal is also a concern. Malaysia generated false documents which FIFA rejected - Malaysia has been eliminated from the 2027 AFC Asian Cup as result. Due to the official FIFA sanctions, Malaysia was stripped of its victory against Vietnam, converting the result into a 3–0 forfeit defeat. PH government failed to act against those involved in the falsification of evidence, including documents - no one has been charged? Like 1MDB, this was a major INTERNATIONALLY known scandal. The fine was 350,000 Swiss francs[RM1,774,815.21]
THUS, in 2026, we are looking with a different PH, PN and BN and thus we cannot look at election outcomes based on peoples' perception before GE15...
BERSAMA - nothing great here - ONLY a party of ex-PKR people that lost party elections. They did not stand out the many years in PKR and in Government - any instance of them speaking out and not agreeing with the party or party leaders, or having a slightly different view... It is again some former members of some party forming a NEW party > and we have had a lot of it - PKR, BERSATU, Amanah ...now BERSAMA and WAWASAN... HERE, we really need to look at the track record or history of those who 'formed' new parties > Were they also VOCAL and spoke out against actions/ommissions/policies of their former party/government - OR were they then silent 'LOYALIST" who never once spoke up even when their Party or Government did wrong or things they felt were 'bad' or not in the best interest of the people?? If they did NOT DO SO before, can we believe their 'PROMISES' when they formed a new party after leaving the old party? I would not be FOOL to do so..
WAWASAN - this is a BERSATU breakaway party led by Hamzah Zainudin - it is interesting to note that Hamzah was an UMNO-BN MP that won in GE14 > and after BN lost Federal Government power to PH, Hamzah left UMNO and joined PH, in particular BERSATU. Did Hamzah raise the 1MDB issue or different opinions when in BN? So, as far as history and track record, there is a problem???
Muhyiddin Yasin of BERSATU stands OUT because he was ousted from UMNO-BN and as Deputy Prime Minister because he was 'brave' to raise the 1MDB issue when Najib was PM. Anwar Ibrahim too does not have similar good reason for being 'kicked-out' from UMNO/BN and Deputy Prime Ministership..???? IF a politician is kicked out of his/her political party because of a STANCE that he took in a particular issue, maybe such politicians deserve 'RESPECT' and support..
COMMENT | Najib and his fair-weather friends
In n the upcoming JOHOR and other State Elections - some believe that voting BN or PH is the same, \R Nadeswaran
COMMENT | On July 4, 2018, former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak was granted bail of RM1 million after claiming trial to charges linked to SRC International Sdn Bhd.
Within days, a group calling itself “Solidariti Bersama Datuk Najib” launched a donation drive, and party loyalists even pledged personal jewellery to fund his defence.
Two years later, on July 28, 2020, Najib was convicted in the High Court on seven counts of criminal breach of trust, money laundering, and abuse of position involving RM42 million from SRC International. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined RM210 million.
The Court of Appeal in 2021 upheld the ruling, branding his actions a “national embarrassment.” The Federal Court dismissed his final appeal in 2022, sealing his fate.
Yet Umno, under Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, refused to let go. For years, the party rallied under the slogan “Justice for Najib,” insisting he had not received a fair trial.
Zahid himself demanded “fair justice” from the judiciary, while leaders and grassroots repeated the mantra long after the courts had spoken.
Pardon and house arrest bid
In 2024, Najib secured partial relief when the Pardons Board halved his sentence to six years and slashed his fine to RM50 million.
This emboldened his supporters, who then pursued a controversial bid for house arrest, claiming a “royal addendum order”. But the courts rejected the argument, ruling it had no constitutional basis.
By April 2026, Najib’s lawyers withdrew the appeal, effectively ending the house arrest saga.
Najib’s son, Nizar, likened his father’s imprisonment to that of South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela’s experience and described it as God’s way of elevating his father to a higher level.
Today, Najib remains in Kajang Prison, serving his reduced term. No fresh pardon application has been filed, despite speculation earlier this year.
The once-thunderous “Justice for Najib” campaign has tapered off, its rallying cry muted by legal closure and political fatigue.
The irony is stark: Najib has already received clemency, yet his supporters continue to demand “justice.” What began as a defiant movement has dwindled into silence, exposing the limits of political loyalty when confronted with judicial finality.
Another judicial rebuke
Then, in December last year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court found Najib guilty on 25 charges and imposed a 15-year prison term plus a RM11.4 billion fine.
The sentence will begin after he completes his reduced six-year SRC International sentence.
If the Court of Appeal’s remark that Najib was a “national embarrassment” was a rebuke, judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who presided over the 1MDB trial, wrote in his 809-page judgment (released June 16, 2026) that the scale of Najib’s plunder “made Attila the Hun look like a choirboy by comparison.”
These damning remarks underscored the unprecedented magnitude of the scandal, which the judge described as one of the world’s largest kleptocratic episodes.
Since then, there has been a golden silence. Perhaps, with state elections looming, Zahid and his Umno cohorts decided that bringing Najib’s name into the fray would be more of a liability than of an asset in the lead-up and campaigning.
Even Najib’s staunchest ally, who benefited from Najib’s generosity, the MIC, last January held special prayers in Batu Caves with hundreds of people wearing white shirts bearing the MIC party logo who chanted “Hidup Najib” (Long Live Najib).
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who has maintained an elegant silence, ignoring such calls despite being badgered over the past eight years, has not yielded.
But when he was in the opposition, he asked those calling for a royal pardon for Najib to first read through the judges’ decisions in the SRC International case, which sent him to jail.
“Read first, how many millions (were taken), which account they went to, how many diamonds were bought. Once we read and know, then we won’t defend (Najib),” Anwar said.
It was never about Najib
So, has Najib been forgotten or written off by Umno?
When Najib’s conviction was upheld, Zahid demanded “fair justice” (whatever this means) for Najib.
His rallying cry - “Justice for Najib” - became a partisan slogan, repeated endlessly by party loyalists even after the courts had spoken.
For Zahid, Najib’s plight was political capital, a tool to galvanise the grassroots and project Umno as the defender of its embattled leader.
The contrasting voices within reveal the hollowness of the “Justice for Najib” campaign.
It was never a universal principle within Umno - only a shield wielded by some, while others quietly distanced themselves.
The “Justice for Najib” campaign was loud, relentless, and choreographed - but it was never truly about Najib. It was about Umno’s survival and the political dividends his plight could yield.
Zahid and the party elite wrapped themselves in his cause when it suited them, demanding “fair justice” as a rallying cry to boost the grassroots.
The same leaders who once thundered in his defence now pivoted to other agendas, leaving Najib to serve his reduced term in Kajang Prison. If his appeal on the 1MDB case fails, he will serve another 15 years.
Najib’s allies appear to be fair-weather friends. They used his predicament as a shield against criticism, a banner to rally the faithful, and a bargaining chip in their own political manoeuvring.
But when the slogan no longer served the party’s interests, they abandoned it - and Najib.
His fate illustrates a deeper reality of Malaysian politics: loyalty is conditional, and justice is often invoked only when it aligns with power.
The silence of his comrades these days is the clearest proof that “Justice for Najib” was never about justice at all. It was a slogan of convenience, discarded once it no longer fit the narrative.
Najib remains behind bars, but the campaign that once roared in his name has withered into whispers.
His story is no longer about innocence or guilt - it is about how quickly political loyalty evaporates. And in that silence, Najib stands alone, a reminder that in politics, even the loudest allies can turn out to be the feeblest friends.
R NADESWARAN is a veteran journalist who strives to uphold the ethos of civil rights leader John Lewis: “When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.” Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
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