2026 Negeri Sembilan state election

Previous election

The previous state election was held on 12 August 2023 following the dissolution of the 15th State Legislative Assembly. The alliance between the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan coalitions won a two-thirds supermajority, securing 31 of 36 seats. Pakatan Harapan's Aminuddin Harun, serving since 2018, continued as chief minister for a second term at the head of a PH–BN coalition.

2026 royal crisis

The Undang Yang Empat are the ruling chiefs or territorial chiefs who play an important role in the election of a new Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.

On 17 April 2026, Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun announced that Datuk Mubarak Dohak was removed from his office as Undang of Sungei Ujong, with effect from 13 May 2025, for 33 alleged offences by Mubarak relating to the state's traditional and customary laws.^[9][10] This announcement came after a special session of the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) chaired by Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz advised the Luak of Sungei Ujong to accept Mubarak's removal, in which Klana Hulu of Sungei Ujong Clan Matriarch (Ibu Soko) and her immediate heirs (Anak Waris) were also in attendance.^[9][10][11]

On 19 April, Mubarak and the other three Undangs (Dato' Haji Maarof bin Mat Rashad of Jelebu, Dato' Haji Muhammed bin Abdullah of Johol, and Dato' Haji Abdul Rahim Yasin of Rembau) declared the removal of Tuanku Muhriz over claims of alleged misconduct and named Tunku Nadzaruddin, the Tunku Panglima of Negeri Sembilan and the third son of the 10th Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Ja'afar, as the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Besar.

On the 20th, Aminuddin rejected the declaration on the grounds that Mubarak, who signed and read the declaration, no longer held any authority as Undang, having not received the mandate from the Klana Hulu Matriarch and her heirs.^[9][11][12] On the following day, the four Undang claimed that Mubarak's removal was not valid as the DKU members who were present during the special session did not make a decision on the matter and that the other three Undang did not agree with Mubarak's removal, also adding that Aminuddin was no longer fit to lead the state administration and should be replaced.^[13]

The standoff led to an indefinite postponement of the State Legislative Assembly on April 23 after the Undangs boycotted the opening ceremony.^[14][15]

Royal crisis becomes political crisis: UMNO withdraws from the state government

On 27 April, 14 UMNO assemblymen withdrew their support for Aminuddin, accusing him of “mishandling” the royal crisis and failing to respect traditional institutions. UMNO leader Jalaluddin Alias declared that Aminuddin had failed to inform UMNO party representatives in the state executive council about prior discussions about the royal dispute and were only aware after the issue escalated.^[14][16] Following an emergency audience with the Tuanku Muhriz and a subsequent meeting with state DAP leaders, Aminuddin told a press conference he would remain in office for the time being.^[16] Aminuddin added that UMNO assemblymen would be removed from the Negeri Sembilan State Executive Council following their retraction of support.

The opposition, Perikatan Nasional said that it was “prepared” to work with all 14 UMNO lawmakers to form a new government and oust Aminuddin and Pakatan Harapan from the state government.^[14] Negeri Sembilan UMNO and Barisan Nasional declared that they had obtained a simple majority to form the state government with the support of the five PN assemblymen, a total of 19 seats of the 36 seat legislature, against PH's 17.

However, on 30 April, federal UMNO President and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that UMNO would remain in the unity government with Pakatan Harapan.^[17]

On 24 May, DAP secretary-general and state member for Chennah Anthony Loke said the Negeri Sembilan Legislative Assembly should be dissolved to allow voters to elect a new government as they now had a "trust issue" with UMNO and the situation was now "untenable" even though UMNO decided to remain in the state government.^[18]

BN-PN plot to form state government

A Free Malaysia Today report on 8 June revealed the existence of an alleged letter dated May 25 by Bersatu President Muhyiddin Yassin to PAS leaders, revealing that Perikatan Nasional held preliminary discussions with UMNO regarding efforts to remove Aminuddin as Menteri Besar, to form a BN-PN government. Discussions at Bersatu headquarters on April 24, involved PAS Secretary-General Takiyuddin Hassan, along with three PAS assemblymen, Bersatu Secretary-General Azmin Ali and two Bersatu assemblymen to sign a statutory declaration. Discussions that night continued to took place between state UMNO chief Jalaluddin and several of the party's assemblymen at a hotel. Ultimately, discussions between PAS and Bersatu ended on 28 April and Bersatu ended any support for a government with UMNO without agreement from PAS, following UMMO's announcement that it would remain in government with Pakatan Harapan. The action of the Bersatu assemblyman in Negeri Sembilan withdrawing support for Umno is among the issues cited by PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang as the reason for the party to reassess its relationship with Bersatu, culminating in PAS cutting ties with Bersatu on 9 June 2026.^[19]

Dissolution of the state assembly

The next Negeri Sembilan state election was not initially due until November 2028, but in a late night press conference on 4 June, Aminuddin announced that the State Legislative Assembly would be dissolved for a fresh election. The Legislative Assembly was dissolved on the next day, 5 June^[20] with the consent of Tuanku Muhriz.^[21]

Observers see PH's move for a snap election in Negeri Sembilan as a “calculated effort” to preempt any political momentum BN might gain in the 2026 Johor state election announced one week earlier on 1 June, where BN has signalled its intent to contest independently and is widely expected to secure a decisive victory. Negeri Sembilan is considered as reflective of the national political sentiment compared to Johor, which is UMNO's stronghold.^[22]

Political parties

Pakatan Harapan is expected to defend its governing mandate and aim to win a majority, while Barisan Nasional also aims to win government in its own right after losing power in 2018. Both coalitions have each decided to put up candidates independently instead of an joint electoral pact, unlike in 2023.^[27] However Barisan Nasional has expressed its interest to form a new but still unnamed pact, as they only announce candidate for some of the constituencies.^[28]

Perikatan Nasional announced to contest in remaining 11 constituencies not contested by BN. Cooperation between PAS and Bersatu was put in uncertainty after PAS's decision to sever ties with Bersatu on 9 June. Bersatu initially planned to contest at least 15 seats under PN,^[29] while PAS said no decision had been made on whether the party would contest the state election using the PN logo.^[30] Bersatu announced on 15 July 2026 to contest under its own banner and may invite other parties to contest with it, despite staying in PN.^[31] Recently admitted to PN, Bersatu breakaway Hamzah Zainuddin's party Wawasan would contest under PN,^[32] while Pejuang decided not to participate.^[33] Far-right party BERJASA have also announced its possible participation and cooperation with PAS, eventually putting a candidate not contesting PN directly.^[34][35] URIMAI party made its electoral debut by contesting 2 seats under Bersatu.^[36]

Bersama, led by former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli after he left PKR and PH, was expected to contest the election as its debut and preparation for the next general election. It rejected any coalition talks.^[37] On 15 July, it was announced that Bersama would not contest the election, taking into current issues and time constraints, in order to focus on the upcoming Malacca state election.^[38] MUDA has stated it formed Progressive Block together with Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM), open to other progressive parties.^[39] On 16 July, it was announced that MUDA would not contest in this election, in order to focus on strengthening the party for the upcoming general election, while endorsing Socialist Party of Malaysia and Parti Orang Asli Malaysia's campaign.^[40] Parti Rakyat Malaysia cancelled its initial intention to participate in the election.^[41][42]

"8123" advertisement

Pakatan Harapan (PH) aims to win 23 of the 36 seats in Negeri Sembilan’s state election on 1 August 2026. DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook describes this as a “safe” majority. He argues that while winning 19 seats would only provide a simple majority and 18 would lead to a tie, securing 23 seats would offer a stronger mandate and more political stability after the crisis faced by the previous state government. Loke made these comments at a DAP fundraising dinner in Seremban. He pointed to the “8123” motif on stage to highlight the goal of winning 23 seats. He emphasized that PH’s current 17 seats are not enough for a stable administration.^[43]

Loke did not specify which seats PH plans to target, stating that to do so would reveal their strategy. However, he mentioned that the coalition has analyzed voter demographics and believes their goal is achievable, even though analysts suggest it would require a significant shift in voter support due to BN–PN cooperation. This target was reasserted publicly and promoted in newspapers after nomination day. PH is using the “8123” message to motivate supporters for its 23-seat goal. Loke later clarified that the “8123” slogan in Chinese-language ads means “1 August, vote PH, win 23 seats.”^[43]

Incumbents who contested for a different party

Incumbents who contested in different constituency

Incumbents who lost re-election in the 2026 election

Statistics and Summary

103 candidates are nominated in this election.^[46][47]

Summary

2026 Negeri Sembilan State Election

Party or alliance				Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Barisan Nasional + Perikatan Nasional		United Malays National Organisation	168,798	26.44	16	+2
			Malaysian Islamic Party	75,160	11.77	4	+1
			Malaysian Chinese Association	44,432	6.96	2	New
			National Vision Party	40,170	6.29	3	New
			Malaysian Indian Congress	13,837	2.17	0	New
			Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia	8,889	1.39	0	0
			Malaysian Indian People's Party	6,188	0.97	0	New
		Total		357,474	56.00	25	+8
	Pakatan Harapan		Democratic Action Party	132,304	20.73	9	–2
			People's Justice Party	78,696	12.33	2	–3
			National Trust Party	45,386	7.11	0	–1
		Total		256,386	40.16	11	–6
	Bersatu+		Malaysian United Indigenous Party	15,644	2.45	0	–2
			United for the Rights of Malaysians Party	1,113	0.17	0	New
		Total		16,757	2.62	0	-2
	Progressive Bloc		Socialist Party of Malaysia	400	0.06	0	New
			Malaysian Orang Asli Party	179	0.03	0	New
		Total		579	0.09	0	0
	Pan-Malaysian Islamic Front			5,844	0.92	0	New
	Independents			1,337	0.21	0	0
Total				638,377	100.00	36	–
Valid votes				638,377	98.81
Invalid/blank votes				7,707	1.19
Total votes				646,084	100.00
Registered voters/turnout				889,490	72.64
Source: electiondata.MY

By parliamentary constituency

Lost deposits

Flipped seats

Post-election pendulum