Mahfodz said the party was fully prepared for the election and would focus on winnable seats rather than a large number of constituencies.

“Johor PAS is 100% ready for the state election, especially in the areas we intend to contest. We are confident we can increase our number of seats and retain the one state seat (Maharani) we won in the last state election,” he told FMT.

Mahfodz said PN’s component parties, including Bersatu, Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP), were prepared to face the state election as a united front.

He said PAS was prepared to work with groups outside PN, including the Reset movement founded by former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin, in line with the party’s efforts to strengthen Muslim unity.

“Our aspiration, as emphasised by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, is to continue efforts towards Muslim unity among Malay-based parties and non-Malay parties that are not extremist.

“That is why we do not want to work only with Bersatu if possible. We want to cooperate with everyone, whether it is the Reset group, Pejuang or others,” he said.

Yesterday, Johor PN chairman Sahruddin Jamal said seat negotiations for the state election were nearly finalised, with about 80% of the seats already settled.

He said discussions on the remaining 20% involved seats allocated to MIPP as well as proposals for electoral cooperation with other parties, including Muda and Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat.

In the 2022 state election, BN won 40 of the 56 seats up for grabs, while Pakatan Harapan won 12, PN three, and Muda one.