“The people’s voices are loud and clear. This is a people’s referendum. They want stability. They want prosperity and development.

“No government can administer without a clear majority,” he said in a Facebook post tonight, following Barisan Nasional’s (BN) big victory in Johor.

According to official results, the coalition won 40 of the 56 state assembly seats.

Najib said in Johor, there had been a state of uncertainty caused by the death of former menteri besar Osman Sapian which needed to be resolved. (Osman was succeeded by Sahruddin Jamal but Pakatan Harapan collapsed in March 2020, leading to a change of government and Hasni Mohammad becoming menteri besar.)

“For BN, there was only one way, a return to the ballot box, we go back to the people. This is the principle of democracy,” he said.

BN’s win today is expected to lead to louder calls for the dissolution of Parliament to pave the way for the 15th general election.

Already, there were chants of “bubar Parlimen” (dissolve Parliament) at the BN war room in Johor Bahru on the arrival of Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is prime minister.

BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has told reporters that BN will not push for GE15 just yet, though it is clear what the grassroots want.

Several top Umno leaders have already spoken on the need for a snap general election due to the current political situation where Ismail’s administration hinges on a thin majority.

The government he leads is supported by Bersatu and PAS.

However, Umno’s ties with the two Perikatan Nasional parties are becoming increasingly strained and the outcome of the Johor elections is only expected to make things worse.