Perikatan Nasional chairman Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar may face significant hurdles if elevated to the premiership as he has yet to undergo the full range of political tests expected of a national leader, according to an Umno lawmaker.
Tampin MP Isam Isa described Samsuri, who serves as the Terengganu menteri besar, as a capable technocrat who has made a successful transition into the political arena. However, the PAS vice-president has not yet faced the level of public scrutiny required for a potential prime minister.
Isam pointed out that while Samsuri is qualified, he has not been fully tested in the way Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has been throughout his long career. Anwar, he noted, has faced numerous trials both within and outside of Umno, and continues to be tested while leading the current unity government.
Despite these reservations, Isam acknowledged that Samsuri appears to be a clean leader without significant political baggage, making him a figure who could potentially be pushed forward for future leadership roles.
Economic performance and national applicability
Samsuri served as the political secretary to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang for a decade before winning the Rhu Rendang state seat in 2018. Following his appointment as menteri besar, he secured a second term after the 2023 state election, where Perikatan Nasional achieved a clean sweep of seats in Terengganu.
However, Shah Alam MP Azli Yusof questioned whether Samsuri’s governance style in Terengganu would be effective at a national level, particularly regarding the economy. Despite the state benefiting from oil and gas royalties and consistent budget surpluses, its economic indicators remain in the mid-to-lower tier.
In 2024, the GDP growth for Terengganu was 4.5%, which fell short of the national average of 5.1%. Additionally, the state ranked 12th in GDP size among the 15 states and federal territories and recorded the third-highest absolute poverty rate in Malaysia.
The search for competent leadership
Azli dismissed a previous social media post by Samsuri that played down low GDP growth in favor of the Malaysian Happiness Index. The Amanah MP questioned whether such a stance would be acceptable if Samsuri were to lead the national economy.
He emphasized that Malaysian voters need to seek leaders who can combine Islamic values with professional competence and the ability to work across different communities.
The country requires leaders who are respected both locally and internationally. While there is a desire for Malay leadership, Azli stressed that such leaders must be competent and capable of collaborating with all races to earn the respect of both allies and rivals.
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