A political analyst suggests that PAS is taking sides in the ongoing Bersatu leadership conflict, favoring deputy president Hamzah Zainudin over president Muhyiddin Yassin. This follows PAS’s implicit rejection of Muhyiddin as Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) prime ministerial candidate, with PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang stating a preference for a candidate under 70 years old.
Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid, a recently retired political analyst from Universiti Sains Malaysia, predicted tension between PAS and Muhyiddin’s loyalists within Bersatu, rather than with the party itself. “PAS would not want to be bogged down by Muhyiddin’s court cases or the unresolved issues involving his son-in-law, Adlan Berhan, who is wanted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission,” Fauzi said. He noted that PAS is leveraging its reputation for integrity and cleanliness as it prepares for the next general election.
However, Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara offered a different perspective, suggesting Hadi’s remarks reflect PAS’s confidence in presenting its own prime ministerial candidate, rather than explicitly endorsing Hamzah. Azmi acknowledged that Hadi’s statement dampens Muhyiddin’s ambitions to reclaim the premiership, particularly given PAS’s growing influence within PN. “This issue has been simmering beneath the surface but has now surfaced publicly. PAS believes it holds the upper hand,” Azmi said, pointing to calls for Muhyiddin to step down during Bersatu’s recent general assembly.
At PAS’s muktamar last week, Hadi emphasized selecting a “healthy and under 70 years old” candidate for prime minister. Muhyiddin, aged 78 and PN’s nominated candidate the previous week, served as Malaysia’s eighth prime minister from 2020 to 2021. In contrast, Hamzah, 68, backed by PAS as opposition leader, is frequently mentioned as a potential PN prime ministerial candidate.
Hadi, who will turn 78 next month, later clarified that his comments targeted himself and PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin, stating they were too old for the role. The PN Supreme Council is scheduled to discuss the matter this week.
Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani of ADA Southeast Asia noted that Hadi’s remarks could spark discontent among Muhyiddin’s supporters, particularly amid ongoing internal challenges within Bersatu. However, he argued that Hadi was not explicitly endorsing any Bersatu figure but was speaking solely about PAS’s candidate. “The situation is far from irreparable. In Malaysian politics, nothing is set in stone, and the issue remains negotiable if Muhyiddin is determined to be PN’s prime minister candidate,” Asrul said. He added that PAS’s history of political pragmatism suggests it will align with whichever Bersatu leader commands the party’s support.
