Johor Polls: 55 candidates forfeit deposits, generated RM275,000 for EC
Younger candidates were particularly affected.
SINAR DAILY REPORTER
SHAH ALAM – A total of 55 candidates forfeited their election deposits after failing to secure at least one-eighth (12.5 per cent) of the votes cast in the 16th Johor state election on Saturday.
Perikatan Nasional (PN), which fielded 33 candidates comprising 16 from Bersatu, 11 from Pas, five from the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) and one from Pejuang, recorded the highest number of deposit forfeitures, with 21 candidates falling below the required threshold.
The coalition not only failed to expand its presence in Johor but also lost the three seats it had won in the 2022 state election — Bukit Kepong, Maharani and Endau.
The results also translated into a financial gain for the Election Commission (EC), which retains election deposits forfeited by unsuccessful candidates. With each state candidate required to place a RM5,000 deposit, the loss of 55 deposits generated RM275,000 for the commission.
Among other parties, Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) saw 15 candidates lose their deposits, followed by Pakatan Harapan (PH) with seven. Six Independent candidates also failed to meet the threshold, while the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) recorded four forfeitures. One candidate each from Parti Orang Asli Malaysia (Asli) and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) likewise lost their deposits.
Younger candidates were particularly affected. Contestants aged between 18 and 40 accounted for the largest share of deposit losses, with 21 of the 51 candidates in that age group — or 41 per cent — failing to secure the minimum vote share required to retain their deposits.
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