A total of 55 candidates lost their election deposits after failing to obtain at least one-eighth of the total votes counted in the 16th Johor State Election (PRN) held yesterday.
Perikatan Nasional (PN) recorded the highest number of candidates who forfeited their deposits, with 21 candidates affected from the coalition’s 33 candidates contested.
The PN candidates who lost their deposits comprised representatives from Bersatu, PAS, the Malaysian Indian Progressive Party (MIPP) and Pejuang.
Official results published by the Election Commission (EC) showed that PN not only failed to expand its influence in Johor, but also lost three State Legislative Assembly (DUN) seats previously won in the 2022 Johor election, namely Bukit Kepong, Maharani and Endau.
Meanwhile, newly established political party Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) faced a major setback after all 15 of its candidates lost their deposits.
Pakatan Harapan (PH) also recorded seven candidates who failed to retain their deposits after not achieving the required vote threshold.
The affected candidates also included all six Independent candidates, four candidates from the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA), as well as two single candidates representing the Malaysian Orang Asli Party (ASLI) and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM).
Among candidates aged between 18 and 40, a total of 21 out of 51 contestants lost their deposits, making up the highest percentage at 41 per cent.
The Johor PRN saw Barisan Nasional (BN) secure a strong mandate to form the state government after winning 48 out of the 56 contested DUN seats.
PH won the remaining eight seats, while PN, Bersama, MUDA, ASLI, PSM and Independent candidates failed to secure any victories.
