Bersatu leaders risk damaging the party’s image and deepening internal divisions by adopting conflicting stances on resigning as Perikatan Nasional (PN) state chiefs, an analyst has cautioned.
Divided positions among leaders
Melaka PN chief Mas Ermieyati Samsudin has firmly stated she will not step down, even after party president Muhyiddin Yassin resigned as PN chairman.
The Masjid Tanah MP dismissed suggestions that state PN positions automatically end with Muhyiddin’s departure.
She emphasised that these roles were determined collectively by the PN Supreme Council.
Resignations in several states
In contrast, PN chiefs in Selangor (Azmin Ali), Johor (Dr Sahruddin Jamal), Perak (Ahmad Faizal Azumu), and Negeri Sembilan (Hanifah Abu Bakar) have all resigned.
Azmin Ali has also stepped down as the coalition’s secretary-general.
Meanwhile, Bersatu vice-presidents Radzi Jidin and Ronald Kiandee have remained silent on their positions as PN chiefs for the federal territories and Sabah, respectively.
Call for uniform resignations
Lau Zhe Wei from the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) urged all Bersatu leaders to vacate their state PN roles.
This would enable the new chairman to reorganise central and state leadership structures.
He warned that the mixed responses would harm Bersatu’s reputation and highlight apparent infighting publicly.
Natural transition expected
Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara described it as natural for Bersatu leaders to resign following Muhyiddin’s exit.
This would allow the incoming chairman to appoint preferred team members.
He noted that holdouts could hinder reorganisation efforts, especially with the new chairman likely from PAS.
Defence of staying on
Syaza Shukri, also from IIUM, argued it is unreasonable to demand Bersatu leaders resign en masse alongside Muhyiddin.
She supported Mas Ermieyati’s view that these are not personal appointments.
Continuity remains vital, particularly with elections approaching.
Potential pressure tactics
Syaza suggested further resignations might aim to push PAS towards accepting the chairmanship.
However, such moves could undermine Bersatu’s standing in PN.
Both Syaza and Lau agreed that widespread resignations would exacerbate cracks in the opposition coalition.
Syaza added that they resemble strategic pressure on PAS amid ongoing disputes.
Background tensions in Perlis
Tensions escalated in PN after a political crisis in Perlis.
PAS’s Shukri Ramli resigned as menteri besar on December 25, alleging a plot by several Bersatu and PAS assemblymen to remove him.
On December 28, Bersatu’s Kuala Perlis assemblyman Abu Bakar Hamzah was named the new Perlis menteri besar.
This sparked accusations of betrayal from PAS leaders against Bersatu.
Two days later, Muhyiddin announced his resignation, effective January 1.
