A figure close to Muhyiddin Yassin has suggested that now is the right time to allow PAS to lead Perikatan Nasional.
Muhyiddin’s former senior private secretary, Marzuki Mohamad, said the move should be made in the interest of PN’s stability, given that PAS is the strongest party in the coalition.
“Which party should lead PN after this? For me, PAS,” he said in a social media post last night.
On concerns among the public - particularly non-Muslims - over the approach PAS may bring, Marzuki (above) said the matter could be set aside for the time being.
What matters, he said, is that PAS’ strength compared to other component parties is important to ensure stability within PN.
Acknowledging that his relationship with PAS has had its ups and downs, Marzuki said a new chapter would be written if PAS eventually becomes PN’s leader.
“When PAS leads, this will be the first time in the history of our country’s politics (that) an Islamic party leads a national coalition. This is a new experiment.
“Of course, there will be those who worry, those who feel anxious, those who criticise.
“Sometimes the criticism is delivered gently. Sometimes it is harsh. That is democracy. Accept the criticism. Don’t label critics with all sorts of labels,” he added.
As to whether the “experiment” would succeed, Marzuki said he has no answer.
“In fact, I’m not convinced yet. Still, I wish you all the best,” he said.
Pressured to resign
In the same post, Marzuki also claimed that some PAS MPs had pressured Muhyiddin to resign immediately following the recent change of the Perlis menteri besar.
Marzuki said he received a message from Muhyiddin at midnight on Dec 29, instructing him to prepare a resignation letter as PN chair.
For the record, a day earlier, Perlis Bersatu chairperson and Perlis PN deputy chairperson Abu Bakar Hamzah was sworn in as the new menteri besar.
Abu Bakar, who is also the Kuala Perlis assemblyperson, replaced Sanglang assemblyperson and PAS central committee member Shukri Ramli, who stepped down after losing the majority support of state assembly members to remain menteri besar.
Three of the assemblypersons who submitted statutory declarations (SDs) rejecting Shukri were from PAS. The party later sacked them for allegedly bringing down the state government.
Prepared letter, media statement
Marzuki said after receiving Muhyiddin’s message, he read viral messages in a WhatsApp group involving MPs.
There, he said, he saw PAS MPs pressuring Muhyiddin to resign as PN chair.
“Muhyiddin replied briefly that he was prepared to resign at any time if required by the PN supreme council. He would bring the matter to the PN supreme council.
“This is the method under the PN constitution. The PN chair is appointed by the PN supreme council, and his resignation must be approved by the council.
“But there were PAS MPs who were not satisfied with Muhyiddin’s reply. That MP pressured Muhyiddin to resign immediately without bringing it to the PN supreme council.
“Several other PAS MPs agreed with this pressure,” he said.
Following that, Marzuki added, Muhyiddin told him he would step down effective Jan 1, 2026.
Marzuki said he then prepared the resignation letter to be sent to PN component party presidents the next day, together with a brief media statement.
However, he said that PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari had already announced the resignation earlier. - Mkini
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