BN set to retain and extend control over Johor as unofficial count deals blow to PH

• A key parliamentary committee in New Delhi is reviewing a contentious anti-corruption bill after stakeholders labeled a specific removal clause "unconstitutional." • The disputed clause mandates the removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, or ministers from office if they are held in custody for 30 consecutive days, regardless of a judicial verdict on culpability.

• Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has dismissed speculation regarding an imminent cabinet reshuffle, despite rumors that ministers were facing a one-year performance review. • The current cabinet is structured around three critical pillars: next-generation political heirs, high-profile technocrats, and veteran politicians or defectors who provide essential electoral assets.

• Barisan Nasional (BN) dominated the Johor polls, winning 48 of the 56 contested seats. • Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition saw a decline in influence, poised to win only eight seats compared to the 12 they secured in 2022.

• Vote counting has begun in Johor following the conclusion of state elections, with polling ending at 6pm local time. • Ballot boxes from over 4,000 voting streams are being transported to tallying centres, with official results expected after 10pm.

• The Madras High Court has issued an interim order halting byelections in five Tamil Nadu Assembly constituencies. • The decision was made by Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan following a public interest litigation filed by K. Venkatachalapathy.

• Korea Hoang Huong Giang, recognized as Vietnam’s top science-track graduate, has decided to pursue a degree in computer science at KAIST. • Giang chose the South Korean institution despite receiving multiple fully funded scholarship offers from prestigious universities in the West.

• Early indicators suggest that voter turnout for the Johor state polls may exceed the levels seen during the 2022 general elections. • The increase in participation is expected to significantly influence the outcome for the various contending political parties in Malaysia.

• Barisan Nasional (BN) has secured an "extraordinary" victory in Johor, significantly extending its political control over the state. • This outcome shifts the political landscape, making the upcoming contest in Negeri Sembilan more critical as Pakatan Harapan (PH) and BN prepare to face off.

• Approximately 2.72 million eligible voters in Johor, Malaysia, cast their ballots on Saturday to elect a new state government. • The election features 172 candidates competing for 56 available seats across the state.

• Social activist Voon Shiak Ni stated on July 12 that the results of the Johor state election serve as a critical "wake-up call" for the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led federal government. • Voon argues that the voting patterns in Johor demonstrate a clear lack of satisfaction among the electorate regarding the current direction of the federal administration.

• Former President Trump's actions regarding election commission firings have sparked concerns over potential interference in upcoming electoral processes. • Reports indicate Trump provided instructions to target Iran with military strikes at unprecedented levels.