Political analysts believe the appointment of PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar as Perikatan Nasional chairman is unlikely to change the coalition’s direction, with real power still held by the party’s ulama leadership.
Analysts from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Akademi Nusantara noted that Samsuri will face major constraints, despite his engineering background offering a less polarising image outside PAS’s conservative Malay-Muslim base.
They pointed out that PAS’s religious leadership holds decisive sway over the party’s state leaders and policy choices.
Ulama’s Enduring Influence
Azmi Hassan said Samsuri’s decisions are shaped by the ulama, including PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, his deputy Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, and the syura council.
He explained that the ulama essentially oversee all menteri besars from the SG4 states under PAS governance, so Samsuri’s role as Terengganu menteri besar or PN chairman makes little difference.
‘The shots will be called by the ulama, no doubt about that,’ he told FMT.
Mazlan Ali agreed, adding that PAS professionals play at best a supporting role.
‘Despite his professional status, Samsuri’s position will not be better than that of the ulama in PAS, whose theme is “ulama leadership”. The real decision-makers in PAS are the ulama,’ he said.
Leadership Transition Details
On February 22, Samsuri officially took over from former prime minister and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin as PN chairman.
Muhyiddin, who stepped down at the year’s turn, will now serve as PN deputy chairman, while Hadi will leave the PN Supreme Council but stay on the presidential council.
Unlike many of Malaysia’s outspoken political figures, Samsuri is known for being soft-spoken and measured.
His professional experience and administrative achievements, highlighted by PAS’s complete victory in Terengganu during the 2023 state elections, have built his image as a capable technocrat rather than a fiery ideologue.
Constraints on Autonomy
Mazlan also noted that Samsuri’s role would stay subordinate, making it hard for him to act independently amid key figures in PAS and PN.
‘I think Samsuri does not have full freedom to make decisions when faced with figures such as Hadi, Muhyiddin, Sanusi Nor, Takiyuddin Hassan, the Mursyidul Am and others.
‘He needs to consider the views of his seniors before making final decisions,’ he said.
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