Muhyiddin Yassin’s former principal private secretary has disclosed that Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party opposed a PAS leader taking over as Perikatan Nasional chairman after Muhyiddin stepped down on January 1.
Meeting addressed leadership deadlock
Marzuki Mohamad said he attended a January 16 gathering at Muhyiddin’s residence, where senior PAS leaders and Muhyiddin discussed ways to end the deadlock over the vacant post.
“PAS wanted the PN chairman’s post, but this was opposed by two other component parties, Gerakan and MIPP,” Marzuki wrote on Facebook.
Compromise reached on new structure
As a way forward, the meeting agreed to strengthen the role of the PN presidential council, led by Muhyiddin, and to set up a PN executive council led by a candidate nominated by PAS.
This proposal gained approval from Gerakan and MIPP, who viewed Muhyiddin’s leadership of the presidential council as a balance to PAS’s more hardline Islamic image.
Thus, the PN crisis was resolved, and the coalition’s constitution would be amended accordingly.
Defence against lying allegations
Marzuki also defended Muhyiddin against accusations that the former prime minister lied about abolishing the PN chairman post, an issue that has led to calls for disciplinary action within Bersatu.
In a leaked letter, Muhyiddin stated that Bersatu and PAS had agreed to abolish the post as part of the coalition’s restructuring, as discussed at the January 16 meeting.
He added that the presidential council, headed by Bersatu, would become the highest decision-making body, while an executive council led by PAS would handle administrative matters.
PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man denied that abolishing the post was discussed, while PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang stated in a separate letter that the presidential council would only be advisory, with the Supreme Council remaining the main executive decision-maker.
Post became redundant under proposals
Marzuki clarified that under the proposed constitutional amendments, the PN chairman’s post would become redundant, effectively eliminating it.
“What matters is not the post of PN chairman, but how the powers of the chairmen of the presidential and executive councils are distributed,” he said.
The powers of the two council chairmen should have been thoroughly discussed by a technical committee, as agreed on January 16, but the committee was never formed.
Discussions were still ongoing, yet Muhyiddin faced accusations of lying based on a letter from Abdul Hadi.
It appears someone is deliberately trying to disrupt the agreement reached by Muhyiddin and Abdul Hadi for the benefit of PN.
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