Johor: Barisan Nasional (BN) has set its sights on retaining the Rengit and Senggarang seats while reclaiming the Penggaram seat in the 16th Johor state election. Johor BN chairman Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the coalition was aiming to enhance its winning majorities in Rengit and Senggarang to further strengthen its hold on both constituencies.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi stated, "In Rengit, we won by a majority of nearly 2,000 votes and our target this time is to double that. Likewise in Senggarang, where our majority was nearly 4,000 votes, we also want to increase it. In Penggaram, where we lost by more than 9,000 votes, we need to work harder to win it back, and we are confident in our candidate this time." He made these remarks while addressing the BN Batu Pahat division election machinery in Rengit.

Also present at the event were Penggaram candidate Boo Chin Leong, Mohd Yusla Ismail representing Senggarang, and Mohd Zaidi Japar for Rengit. The Johor Menteri Besar emphasized the importance of not being swayed by attempts of sabotage or personal attacks, particularly after some leaders were not selected as candidates.

He indirectly referred to former Rengit assemblyman Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, who allegedly launched social media attacks after leaving UMNO. "If they want to attack me, that's fine. What is important is that voters do not follow them and instead emulate leaders who remained loyal despite not being selected as candidates," he remarked. He further mentioned that UMNO secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki revealed Mohd Puad's intention to propose his own son as a candidate.

BN is contesting all 56 seats in the state election, involving 172 candidates. The polling day is set for July 11, with early voting scheduled for July 7.