Political analysts have urged Bersatu secretary-general Azmin Ali to take proactive steps to resolve the party’s internal factionalism, emphasizing his critical role in ensuring Bersatu’s cohesion as it prepares for Malaysia’s 16th general election.
Syaza Shukri from the International Islamic University Malaysia stressed that Azmin, leveraging his experience as a former Selangor menteri besar, must unite the party and propose policies that resonate with voters to maintain his political relevance.
“Azmin, just like party president Muhyiddin Yassin, needs to take the lead in unifying the party and putting forward policy ideas that resonate with voters,” Syaza told FMT.
She suggested that Azmin’s position as secretary-general positions him as a potential successor to Muhyiddin, provided he demonstrates leadership in navigating the current crisis.
Internal Tensions and Allegations
The call for Azmin’s leadership follows remarks by Bersatu Supreme Council member Wan Saiful Wan Jan, who questioned Azmin’s suitability to lead due to unresolved controversy surrounding a 2019 video allegedly depicting Azmin in a compromising situation.
The then attorney-general had concluded there was no case to prosecute Azmin at the time. In response, Bersatu’s 10 Selangor assemblymen, including Dr Afif Bahardin (Taman Medan) and Hilman Idham (Gombak Setia), accused Wan Saiful of deflecting attention from his own corruption charges by revisiting the old allegations against Azmin.
Azmi Hassan from Akademi Nusantara noted that Azmin missed a key opportunity to assert leadership when controversy over statutory declarations aimed at ousting Muhyiddin resurfaced during Bersatu’s recent annual general assembly. “Azmin should have handled the issue before Wan Saiful came out firing salvos on old cases about Azmin,” Azmi said, urging swift action to contain the crisis.
Azmin’s Political Experience
Awang Azman Pawi from Universiti Malaya highlighted Azmin’s extensive political career, which began in Umno as Anwar Ibrahim’s private secretary, followed by roles as a key ally in PKR and Selangor menteri besar. Azmin’s influence grew until the 2020 Sheraton Move, after which he joined Bersatu under Muhyiddin’s leadership. “Despite setbacks, Azmin is seen as influential and almost on Muhyiddin’s level, making his leadership critical as the party seeks direction,” Awang Azman told FMT. He added that ongoing debates about leadership transitions, including Wan Saiful’s push for change, keep Azmin in the spotlight.
Factionalism and Party Dynamics
Sivamurugan Pandian from Universiti Sains Malaysia noted that Bersatu’s internal crisis has been simmering, with rival factions now more apparent. Despite its relatively small size, Bersatu remains a pivotal player in Malaysia’s political landscape. Sivamurugan pointed to Azmin’s track record as a former menteri besar and federal minister as evidence of his leadership potential, though the 2019 scandal continues to pose challenges.
“This is a chance for Azmin to prove his leadership skills and position himself as a successor, but it depends on whether he can impress the majority or fails to contain the crisis,” he said.
Sivamurugan warned that the conflict involves multiple personalities within Bersatu, not just Azmin and Wan Saiful, with at least two clear factions emerging. “Bersatu must decide quickly whether it wants to strengthen its leadership or allow divisions to deepen,” he added, underscoring the urgency for Azmin to take charge and steer the party toward unity.
