Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin appears increasingly desperate to hold onto leadership of Perikatan Nasional, even as his latest claims have placed PAS in a difficult position, according to an analyst.
Syaza Shukri from International Islamic University Malaysia said Muhyiddin’s assertion that Bersatu and PAS had agreed to abolish the PN chairmanship – a claim PAS has firmly denied – reflects his strong desire to remain at the helm of the coalition.
She described his proposal to lead a presidential council that would take over executive decisions from the Supreme Council as questionable, especially since he had already stepped down as PN chairman on January 1.
“It looks like he was trying to find ways to stay in charge without proper consultation or agreement from other parties,” Syaza told FMT.
Pressure mounts ahead of GE16
Syaza noted that while the denial from PAS has made Muhyiddin’s position look weaker, he is likely to press harder to keep his influence, particularly with the 16th general election approaching.
She pointed out that the PN chairman – or whoever holds the top leadership role – will sign the watikah, or appointment letters, for election candidates.
“Calls for Muhyiddin to step aside have come up repeatedly over the past year, yet he has stayed on. He may argue that as Bersatu president he ranks higher, or claim support from most PN party presidents. Either way, I do not see him stepping back soon,” she said.
Syaza added that PAS, under such pressure, is more likely to give ground than to exit the coalition or revive its former Muafakat Nasional pact with Umno.
“Reviving MN has never been a realistic option, especially from Umno’s side. PAS is simply cornered for now,” she remarked.
Muhyiddin more out of touch, says second analyst
Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid from Universiti Sains Malaysia offered a different view, saying Muhyiddin seems more out of touch with the feelings of PN leaders and grassroots supporters than desperate to cling to power.
“It is less about a leader fighting to keep his position and more about failing to understand the real substance of serious discussions. This has only added fuel to calls from PAS’s secondary leaders who would prefer to see him go,” Fauzi said.
He believes the ongoing chairmanship dispute will strengthen arguments from Muhyiddin’s critics within PN that he should no longer lead the coalition.
Fauzi, however, does not foresee PAS leaving PN.
“With Ahmad Zahid Hamidi still leading Umno and Anwar Ibrahim heading Pakatan Harapan, the conditions are not right for PAS to walk away. The BN-PH partnership is likely to continue into GE16,” he said.
Background to the dispute
Muhyiddin claimed yesterday that Bersatu and PAS had agreed during a meeting at his home more than a week ago to abolish the PN chairman post as part of coalition restructuring.
He said the parties also decided that a Bersatu-led presidential council would become the highest decision-making body, while a PAS-led executive council would manage administrative matters.
PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man rejected the claim, stating that the issue was not even raised at the January 16 meeting.
In a separate letter seen by FMT, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang clarified that his party views the presidential council as advisory only, with the Supreme Council remaining the coalition’s main executive authority.
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