Bersatu founding member Redzuan Yusof has described Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation as Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman as a “masterstroke.”
He stated that the calculated move successfully caught critics off guard and neutralized attempts by “mutineers” within Bersatu to unseat him as president.
In an interview with FMT, Redzuan dismissed claims that the resignation was triggered by the political turmoil in Perlis.
Instead, he argued that Muhyiddin’s decision allowed him to prevent local crises from becoming national issues while channelling his energy toward strengthening Bersatu’s internal structure.
By stepping down, Muhyiddin has shifted the burden of leading PN entirely onto the PAS leadership. Redzuan emphasized that the task of winning over non-Malay voters in the next general election now falls squarely on PAS, which lacks a clear successor to bridge the gap with moderate voters.
Former Penang Deputy Chief Minister P. Ramasamy echoed these concerns, stating that without moderate figures like Muhyiddin and Azmin Ali, non-Malay voters might perceive the coalition as overly extremist.
He warned that this could hinder PN’s chances of gaining broader electoral support.
Muhyiddin, whose resignation took effect on January 1, clarified in his New Year message that he remains firmly in charge of Bersatu. He vowed to focus on closing ranks within the party while ensuring that Bersatu remains a loyal and committed partner within the PN coalition.
