UMNO is targeting to win at least 20 of the 26 parliamentary seats in Johor in the 15th general election (GE15), state party information chief Dr Adham Baba said.

He said the target was set after seeing the party’s success in the Johor elections in March and the Malacca polls in November last year.

“Judging by the current scenario, it certainly looks like we are heading for more wins in parliamentary seats.

“We won 40 of the 56 state seats for a two-thirds majority (in Johor). So, we will aim to win at least 20 of the 26 parliamentary seats,” he told a press conference after a Johor Umno Aidilfitri gathering in Kulai last night.

The Tenggara lawmaker said the state Umno information machinery is ready to face GE15 anytime it is called.

In GE14, Barisan Nasional (BN) won only eight of the 26 parliamentary seats in Johor, with Umno securing seven – Parit Sulong, Sembrong, Mersing, Tenggara, Kota Tinggi, Pontian and Pengerang – and MCA taking Ayer Hitam. 

However, Mersing MP Dr Abd Latif Ahmad subsequently left Umno to join Bersatu, cutting BN’s share of parliamentary seats to seven.

BN’s control of parliamentary seats went back to eight after MCA’s Dr Wee Jeck Seng won the Tanjung Piai seat in a by-election on November 16, 2019. – Bernama, May 21, 2022.