When more is not merrier in Johor polls

Voters will have a varied menu to choose from in the March 12 Johor polls, and this is good as people vote for parties that closely match their beliefs.

It further increases political engagement and it's likely to attract higher voter turnout.

But in the case of Johor, an excessive number of political parties may be a curse as it split votes, causing the opposition to weaken and this will indirectly empower BN.

On the cards are Barisan Nasional, Perikatan Nasional (PAS, Bersatu), Pakatan Harapan (DAP, Amanah), PKR, Muda and the latest to throw in the hat is Sabah-base Warisan that expanded its wings to Peninsula just two months ago.

For Barisan Nasional, the more the merrier as a disunited opposition is all that is needed to win a majority in the 56 state seats.

Odd pairings are said to act decisively and fall apart easily. For instance, the stalemate on three seats offered by PKR to the ambitious newly registered Muda. It wants winnable seats, causing talks between both the multiracial parties coming to a sudden halt.

DAP and Amanah are being cozy at the moment as their needs complement each other, one hoping to lure the urban Chinese and Indian voters while the other keeping its fingers crossed to win rural Malay voters. They are also hoping to lure the Undi18 voters by offering Muda 6 winnable state seats.

PAS knows it has no chance of winning but it is contesting to fulfill its obligation under Perikatan Nasional. Bersatu won over 20 state seats in GE14 on the back of Chinese and Indian support, and these voters are likely to ditch them for other multiracial parties.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad-led Pejuang has been revealed to contest in 42 seats but, can it even win a seat as the 7-month old party is still relatively unknown. One wonders why they would contest over 40 seats when it would only further split votes and empower BN.

Now comes the latest addition to the lineup - Warisan. Will their entry to national politics at this point be of any help to take on BN? Which party will they approach to avoid multiple cornered fights? Even though PKR has branded itself to fight for justice and the poor, while Warisan hopes to reduce decades of the racial gap between Malays, Chinese and Indians and Muda eyes a new brand of politics, one wonders if voters would buy their narrative in the state elections.