KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 -- Barisan Nasional (BN) will contest the upcoming Negeri Sembilan state election independently, chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed today, signalling a three-cornered fight as coalition dynamics continue to shift ahead of polling day.
According to Bernama, the deputy prime minister announced that BN would go it alone in the state polls, rather than forming an electoral pact with either Pakatan Harapan (PH) or Perikatan Nasional (PN).
The decision sets the stage for a multi-cornered contest in Negeri Sembilan, where PH has separately announced it is targeting more than 20 of the state's 36 assembly seats, according to DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke.
The three-way dynamic is further complicated by the dramatic split within PN itself. PAS announced yesterday that it was ending its bilateral political cooperation with Bersatu, although the party confirmed it would remain within the broader PN coalition for now.
PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari cited developments in Negeri Sembilan and Perlis involving Bersatu that had "affected the morale of PAS machinery" ahead of the state elections, suggesting the partnership had become a liability at the grassroots level.
The dissolution of the Negeri Sembilan state assembly was announced earlier this week, triggering the campaign period that will determine whether the unity government can retain its hold on the state or whether opposition forces can make gains.
PH presidential council member Saifuddin Nasution has indicated that final seat distribution between coalition partners would be determined upon Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's return from Japan, with negotiations between DAP, PKR, and Amanah still ongoing.
For BN, the decision to contest independently reflects UMNO's strategy of rebuilding its base after years of coalition upheaval, particularly at the state level where the party traditionally held significant influence.
Political observers note that three-cornered contests typically favour the incumbent, as opposition votes are split between competing parties. However, Negeri Sembilan's electoral history suggests that voter sentiment can shift rapidly in a state with a mixed urban-rural demographic profile.
The Election Commission is expected to announce nomination and polling dates in the coming days.
