PORPONENTs of ummah unification must be rejoicing after it was revealed late last night (July 15) that Barisan Nasional (BN) will contest only 25 of the 36 state seats in the Aug 1 Negeri Sembilan (N9) polls.
Fresh from having toppled Pakatan Harapan (PH) – its Madani ally at the Federal level – in the recent Johor state election by a landslide 48-8 victory, political observers expect BN and in particular ‘big brother’ UMNO to further reinforce its “go solo” quest in anticipation of the 16th General Election (GE16).
While UMNO has incessantly denied any form of collaboration with external parties especially PAS in the Johor state polls, the logic is such that the party could be accorded benefit of doubt given Johor is a renowned BN/UMNO traditional stronghold.
But the ballgame in N9 is different as the powerbase is more balanced with the seemingly pro-DAP Chinese population potentially being the kingmakers by virtue of their 21%-23% population size.
Editor’s Note: UMNO would field candidates in 16 constituencies, followed by MCA (seven) and MIC (two), according to the coalition’s deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (Tok Mat).
In the previous July 2023 state election, BN and PH had contested as a team under the unity government banner. Back then, UMNO contested 17 seats while the MCA and MIC did not contest the election.
Together, they won 31 of the 36 state seats (UMNO held 14 seats) with the remaining five going to Perikatan Nasional (PN).
On Tuesday (July 14), PH confirmed that it would be contesting all 36 seats in the state polls with PKR vying for 16, DAP (11) and Amanah (nine).
Muafakat Nasional to be revived?
Apparently, the “missing 11 seats” has set tongues wagging from among UMNO grassroots who have expected the country’s oldest political party to contest in all 36 seats, thus once again locking horn with PH to test its rising influence.
This is when gossips sprouted of the seats being reserved for “a soon-to-be-unveiled partner” or even “as a possible return of favour”, hence a strategic ploy to avert splitting of votes by assuring a head-to-head contest against PH.
This is when Malay language news portal Oh! Media cited an internal UMNO source claiming that Tok Mat was referring to PAS in his assertion that BN/UMNO “won’t make an understanding with Linggi (N9 caretaker Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun) but with a trustworthy friend”.
“This is itself a strong hint that the Muafakat Nasional (MN) agenda may be revived,” reported the news portal.
The notion of an open UMNO-PAS collaboration was further reinforced by media consultant/trainer Muhamad Harris Nasril’s source, Angry Bird.
The social media influencer who specialises in AI video/KOL (key opinion leader) build-up penned on his Facebook post:
“You’ll see the announcement tomorrow (today), bro. They’ll work with PAS to avoid a clash,” Angry Bird replied confidently.
“Wow. If it’s one-on-one, even (DAP secretary-general) Anthony Loke’s seat can be shaken” I replied.
“That’s the game. It’s been proven in the Johor state election, right?” Angry Bird asked with a sarcastic smile.”
Alas, finfluencer Syahir (@syahir) wondered “how much longer can the unity government at the Federal level hold on” under such circumstances.
BN bertanding 25 kerusi DUN di Negeri Sembilan:
UMNO: 16
MCA: 7
MIC: 2bermakna 11 lagi kerusi diserahkan kepada parti “rakan”.
berapa lama lagi Kerajaan Perpaduan di peringkat Persekutuan boleh bertahan? pic.twitter.com/a1z3EJ1LEJ
— Syahir (@syahir) July 15, 2026
Whatever the case is, Tok Mat who is also the N9 BN chairman said the coalition will have to work hard so that they can wrest the state.
“The blue wave from Johor is here and we should go into battle mode so that we can emerge victorious here,” The Star cited him as saying at last night’s BN line-up unveiling in the presence of UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, BN component party members and Friends of BN.
“So the battle cry is the local saying Hobin Jang Hobin which means we’ve to whack our rivals,” he stressed.
Hobin Jang Hobin is a colloquial term of endearment and also a motivational slogan of the N9 football team which means “Strike, Boy, Strike”. – July 16, 2026
Maim image credit: UMNO Online/Facebook
