COMMENT | Negeri Sembilan’s 2026 results offer important insights into how Malaysian voting is changing and staying the same.

The surface analysis of BN-Perikatan Nasional winning through a Malay “unity” alliance obscures important changes and consistencies on the ground. While identity politics remains paramount in shaping voting, conditions are evolving, with Negeri Sembilan’s polls having their own unique voting trends.

This analysis digs into voting trends. Part 1 looks at ethnic voting, with Part 2 focusing on generation and class findings. The latter lenses are critical for understanding voting more holistically.

A more complex picture

A closer look at the polling station and “saluran” (stream) electoral results in last month’s polls, coupled with post-election ground analysis, shows a more complex and multi-faceted picture.

The analysis below differentiates voting in...