Muhyiddin Yassin has rejected claims that Bersatu voluntarily chose to part ways with Perikatan Nasional (PN), insisting the party remains a legitimate component member of the coalition.
In a Facebook post, the Bersatu president said the party had been sidelined by the coalition despite being one of its founding members.
He also claimed that seat negotiations between Bersatu and other PN component parties for the Negeri Sembilan election were abruptly discontinued on what he described as unreasonable grounds.
Muhyiddin further alleged that Bersatu was not invited to attend the special PN Supreme Council meeting where seat allocations for the state election were finalised.
Dispute over coalition decisions
Muhyiddin’s remarks came a day after PN information chief Annuar Musa said Bersatu’s decision to contest the Negeri Sembilan election under its own logo showed that the party had voluntarily chosen to part ways with PN for the state polls.
According to Annuar, PN leaders had already been informed last month of Bersatu’s intention to establish another political platform.
Earlier this week, Muhyiddin announced that Bersatu would use its own logo in the Negeri Sembilan election, while maintaining that no decision had been made on whether the party would leave PN.
He also criticised PAS for holding discussions with Barisan Nasional (BN) on possible electoral cooperation without first consulting PN’s other component parties or obtaining approval from the coalition’s Supreme Council.
However, PN chairman Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar dismissed the allegation, saying he had authorised the discussions and that the outcome was later endorsed by the Supreme Council.
‘Backwards way of doing things’
Responding to the latest developments, Muhyiddin said he was not objecting to the negotiations themselves but questioned the process.
He argued that discussions involving coalition policy should have been brought before the PN Supreme Council before any decision was made, rather than being presented for approval after negotiations had concluded.
Muhyiddin also claimed that Umno MPs had previously played a role in bringing down the PN federal administration and were now doing the same within the unity government formed with Pakatan Harapan.
He alleged that PAS’ pursuit of cooperation with BN, which he said still maintains ties with Pakatan Harapan and DAP, had resulted in Bersatu being sidelined within PN.
Muhyiddin maintained that PN’s efforts to work with BN were not about Malay unity but reflected a political realignment.
Despite the differences, he wished PN well and said Bersatu would continue moving forward while remaining committed to its political struggle.
