As Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin moves to close ranks with PAS after the party took over leadership of Perikatan Nasional, a group of 18 MPs aligned with sacked Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin has similarly pledged loyalty to the Islamist party.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, one of the MPs claimed that all of them, along with Hamzah, have pledged support to PAS and the party’s vice-president, Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, as the new PN chairperson succeeding Muhyiddin.
“Certainly, we - including Hamzah - will remain with PN. We have already pledged our loyalty to PAS and Samsuri within PN, even if we are (serving as) independent MPs,” the MP said.
The MP also said they will remain part of the opposition bloc.
The MP said this when asked about Hamzah’s next move following the launch of his Reset movement on Feb 14, a day after his sacking and expulsion from Bersatu, along with a list of other MPs, state assemblypersons, and party leaders.
However, the MP also hinted that the parliamentary opposition leader is drawing up plans to ensure their continued political survival.
“That has to wait for now, we can’t reveal it yet,” he said, further hinting that they may align themselves with PAS.
Hamzah has so far remained coy, including about his position as parliamentary opposition leader.
He has claimed the support of 18 incumbent and sacked Bersatu MPs, while Muhyiddin is left with five others, including acting Bersatu deputy president Radzi Jidin, the Putrajaya MP.
Apart from Bersatu, the opposition bench also comprises 43 PAS lawmakers, one from Muda, and six former Bersatu representatives sacked in June 2024 for failing to pledge allegiance to the party.
New path forward?
Earlier today, Malaysiakini reported that a source close to PN's leadership revealed that Muhyiddin, in a recent phone call with PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, left the decision on a new opposition leader to PAS.
Despite initial speculation that Hamzah would make a related announcement during this week’s parliamentary sitting, Malaysiakini understands that he will not be at tomorrow’s weekly opposition leader press conference.
Meanwhile, a source close to Hamzah said the possibility of the Larut MP forging “a new political pathway” has not been ruled out.
“I can say it is not impossible that a new political coalition or platform will be brought forward by Hamzah.
“Whether it takes the form of a new party or merely a political bloc involving MPs will be determined later,” the source added.
The NGO-to-party route
When contacted, Bersih executive director Asraf Sharafi said the likely options for Hamzah to avoid losing his Larut seat through enforcement of the anti-party-hopping law would be to launch a new platform in preparation for the next general election.
“I see two possible ways. Like what we saw with Amanah before it was formed - those who were ousted during the PAS muktamar in 2015 first set up the NGO, Gerakan Harapan Baru, while others formed Pasma, and eventually they came together to establish Amanah,” Asraf told Malaysiakini.
“This is something Hamzah could possibly do, although we have not heard anything official yet, beyond his ‘Reset’ movement.
“This method of establishing an NGO has been done before. That would be the safest route for Hamzah - to use such a platform as a vehicle to stay active politically,” he said.
Elaborating, Asraf said Hamzah and other incumbent MPs could also attach themselves to another political party, without any formal declaration.
“He could operate through that party by organising programmes and simply participating as a guest speaker or programme contributor.
“Those are among the possibilities available to him if he believes there is still political mileage for him,” he said.
He added that the option for a sidelined politician to further their political careers first through an NGO, later transformed into a political party ahead of fresh elections, is also a common trend across the region, including neighbouring Indonesia and Thailand.
“This is not unique to Malaysia. In Indonesia, we have the example of Anies Baswedan, who is operating through an NGO platform, which is reportedly being planned as a future political vehicle,” said Asraf.
Anies, one of three candidates in the 2024 Indonesian presidential election, was inducted as an honorary member of the People’s Movement, which has since transformed into a political party on Jan 18 this year. - Mkini
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