SEREMBAN, July 18 -- After months of political uncertainty, Negeri Sembilan heads into its state election in a contest that will test whether a stable government can be restored.

The race will formally begin today, with candidates filing their nomination papers and kicking off two weeks of campaigning in an election that looks markedly different from the last state polls.

Unlike the 2023 state election, when Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) cooperated under the federal unity government, the two coalitions are going into this election separately.

At the same time, an apparent understanding between BN and Perikatan Nasional (PN) to avoid direct clashes, coupled with Bersatu's decision to stand against its PN partners in eig...