“We have never closed the door on any party. Umno is always open to negotiating with all parties. There is no issue,” he told reporters after the Mara International Education Conference here.

This follows calls for the Umno-led Barisan Nasional to go solo in the next Johor polls instead of partnering with its unity government ally Pakatan Harapan.

The current Johor government led by menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi is composed of BN assemblymen, while PH representatives sit as backbenchers in the state assembly.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently urged Johor PKR to use the right channels to hold negotiations for the next state polls with its allies, especially Umno.

The PKR president acknowledged that the party was relatively weaker in Johor when it came to state seats but said negotiations should also account for PKR’s strength of support at the parliamentary level.

In response, Johor PKR said it was ready to hold seat talks with Umno for the next state election.

BN formed the Johor government after the 2022 state election, winning 40 of the 56 state seats up for grabs. PH won 12 seats, with DAP winning 10 and PKR and Amanah taking one each.

Johor Umno secretary Abdul Halim Suleiman previously said Johor BN intended to defend all 40 seats it won in 2022, even if it worked with PH.

He also said BN was prepared to contest all 56 state seats if it decides to go solo.