Johor: The 16th Johor state election should serve as a platform for mature campaigning among contesting parties, with competition centred on policies, performance and offerings to voters rather than political hostility that could undermine cooperation at the federal level.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, sociopolitical analyst Prof Datuk Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi of Universiti Malaya emphasized the importance of parties openly comparing their respective pledges and manifestos. This includes their capability to manage Johor, attract investment, engage urban and rural voters, and address key issues such as the cost of living, employment, housing, and public welfare. He stressed the need to avoid using overly aggressive rhetoric that could hinder post-election cooperation.
"Competition in a democracy is legitimate and healthy, but it must be conducted firmly and respectfully. Those parties can compete in Johor without destroying the bridges of cooperation that remain necessary at the federal level," he told BERNAMA.
The Malaysia National Civics Academy fellow noted that campaigns focusing excessively on attacking party identities, narrow state sentiments, or portraying political partners in Putrajaya as 'absolute enemies' would only confuse voters. He suggested that parties advocating for a state mandate should argue based on administrative track records, government stability, economic development, and state leadership, while those presenting a check-and-balance narrative should emphasize institutional reforms and diverse representation.
Awang Azman highlighted the necessity of respecting key boundaries throughout the campaign, such as avoiding personal attacks and those based on race, religion, or political partnerships. He warned that political wounds inflicted during the campaign could make post-election cooperation more challenging.
In the Johor context, he identified the need for debates focused on policies and public interests, including the border economy, cost of living, job opportunities, the development of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), affordable housing, congestion, technical education, and public welfare.
Meanwhile, political analyst Dr Norman Sapar concurred that parties must moderate their campaign tone to ensure political competition at the state level does not affect stability and cooperation at the federal level. The author of "Perang Politik Media Sosial" noted that open competition is part of democracy, but it should not damage the political trust essential for governing the country post-election.
Norman observed that the Johor election campaign had demonstrated a good level of maturity so far, despite some issues and attempts by certain parties to claim credit for various initiatives. He noted that the situation remained within controlled political competition, with Johor leaders using subtle criticism rather than open confrontation, reflecting Johor's political culture of courtesy and decorum.
He urged contesting parties to focus on the people by highlighting ideas, administrative records, policy proposals, and their capacity to address public concerns. Campaigns should not question Federal-level cooperation or create controversies that could undermine national interests.
Norman expressed confidence in the maturity of voters, who are increasingly able to distinguish between political competition in Johor and the need for national political stability. He noted that parties offering more solutions are generally viewed more favorably than those focusing on attacking opponents.
A total of 172 candidates are contesting 56 seats in the Johor state election, with polling set for this Saturday.