A proposal to position Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin as party president alongside vice-president Radzi Jidin as his deputy could offer a practical way to ease the growing internal rift within the party, according to a political analyst.
Proposed leadership switch to bridge divide
Mazlan Ali, a political analyst at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, said the increasing pressure on party president Muhyiddin Yassin to step down highlights serious divisions that risk undermining Bersatu’s long-term stability if not addressed.
He suggested the Hamzah-Radzi pairing would appeal to key stakeholders, especially PAS, which remains Bersatu’s most critical coalition partner.
“PAS has been seen favouring Hamzah and Radzi,” Mazlan said, pointing out the Islamic party’s repeated disagreements with Muhyiddin.
Mazlan dismissed suggestions that Hamzah should be blamed for Perikatan Nasional’s disappointing performance in the recent Sabah state election. He described such criticism as unfair and aimed at damaging Hamzah’s standing.
“Blaming Hamzah for PN’s poor results in the recent Sabah state election is unfair and a claim intended to blacken his reputation,” he added.
Calls for fresh leadership ahead of GE16
The remarks follow an open call by Kepong Bersatu chief Ahmad Nizar Sani for a leadership overhaul. Nizar proposed the Hamzah-Radzi team to lead Bersatu towards the 16th general election.
Nizar cited Muhyiddin’s struggle to manage internal conflicts, strained ties with PAS, and the need for fresh, more inclusive leadership to move the coalition forward.
Mazlan described Radzi as an open-minded leader with an academic background who has stayed neutral in party matters.
“Radzi appears to be someone who does not take sides. He can be relied on as a leader capable of bringing reconciliation within Bersatu — a leader who can balance the current tensions between the Muhyiddin and Hamzah factions,” he explained.
Radzi joined other Bersatu leaders at Muhyiddin’s Bukit Damansara residence on Sunday, an event boycotted by those aligned with Hamzah.
Differing views on the proposal’s origins
Akademi Nusantara analyst Azmi Hassan took a more reserved view of the Hamzah-Radzi suggestion. He indicated the push for change likely stems from Hamzah’s camp.
Azmi felt Radzi’s strength lies in his neutrality and ability to act as a compromise figure. He suggested Radzi might be better paired with another leader who is similarly unaligned to help reduce factional friction.
Azmi observed that Muhyiddin continues to enjoy backing from the party’s top leadership, while Hamzah commands stronger support at the grassroots level.
