Leaders within the government bloc see the ongoing crisis engulfing Perikatan Nasional as a major test for Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, who was recently appointed to lead the coalition and serve as opposition leader.
Amanah secretary-general Faiz Fadzil said the strained relationship between PAS and Bersatu, which has become increasingly exposed following Abdul Hadi Awang’s public remarks that the party is reviewing its ties with Bersatu, would serve as a yardstick for Samsuri.
“This crisis is an acid test for Samsuri. We will see whether he succeeds in resolving the internal PN crisis or not,” Faiz (above) told Malaysiakini today.
Whatever the outcome, Faiz added, it would send a message to the public about the Terengganu menteri besar, which would reflect poorly on the latter if he fails.
“Failure to resolve the PN crisis will be evidence that Samsuri’s position as PN chairperson is merely that of a puppet.
“It’s because all decisions are determined by Hadi,” Faiz said, adding that this would then signal Samsuri as a "lame duck chairperson".
Internal cracks widen
Yesterday, Hadi stressed that his party remained patient with unilateral actions that he claimed Bersatu had taken.
“We are not disappointed… we are patient, (but) patience has its limits,” he told a press conference in Rusila, Terengganu.
The Marang MP said the unilateral actions include withdrawing support for state governments and perceived failures in maintaining internal party discipline.
Elaborating, Hadi said the first matter concerned two Negeri Sembilan Bersatu assemblypersons who withdrew their statutory declarations supporting the removal of Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun over the ongoing dispute between the state nobility.
Hadi described the move as a violation of the camaraderie between both parties, adding that PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan has sent a letter to Bersatu about the matter.
The second issue involved Bersatu’s actions in Perlis, where the party initiated a coup that resulted in PAS no longer helming the state government.
“We (PAS) took disciplinary action against our assemblypersons, but Bersatu did nothing,” Hadi lamented, referring to the sacking of three PAS elected representatives who were involved.
“We were still patient then because we wanted to maintain PN unity,” he added.
Coordination issues
Apart from that, Hadi said the coordination of the Kedah and Kelantan exco and deputy speakers’ posts was also unsatisfactory.
He said Bersatu had requested to sack and replace former party members from those posts, but PAS disagreed, as they had carried out their duties well.
Furthermore, Hadi said Bersatu blocked the expansion of PN because it disagreed with having more parties join the coalition.
Elaborating further, Faiz said that if Samsuri manages to ease tensions between PAS and Bersatu instead, he could be seen as effectively contradicting Hadi’s position.
“That is why I have always stressed from the beginning that the party president must lead any coalition; otherwise, it is not a stable understanding.
“In a situation where PN's decisions are determined by the PAS president as the de facto leader of PN, the coalition will operate as a conservative alliance filled with politics of hatred, sentiment, and religious opportunism.
“More than that, the public will see PN as an unstable coalition and therefore, incapable of governing the country,” Faiz said.
‘Growing lack of trust’
In a related development, Amanah Youth deputy chief Danial Al-Rashid Haron Aminar Rashid said Hadi’s remarks clearly reflect the reality that cracks within PN are widening.
Behind all this, he claimed, there is a growing lack of trust between the parties.
“They are more focused on internal power struggles and influence rather than discussing the future of the people,” he added.
Danial also claimed that the increasingly difficult-to-hide reality is that PAS itself is beginning to accept that Bersatu is merely relying on its machinery and influence.
He said the situation shows PAS is effectively burdened with a “dead weight”, but is forced to maintain it to project an image of PN as a stable coalition.
“In Selangor, for example, everyone knows PAS is eager for the chance to take over the PN chairpersonship in the state, and thus lead the opposition bloc in the Selangor state legislative assembly.
“PAS may be able to show that it can lead and organise the opposition more effectively ahead of the upcoming state assembly sitting. However, in the end, PAS still has to accept the fact that their leader remains Azmin Ali.
“This proves that within PN itself there is mutual distrust, even though each party tries to project an image of strength and dominance,” he said in a statement today.
Mobilise Selangor PAS
The Batu Tiga assemblyperson also suggested that Selangor PAS commissioner Abd Halim Tamuri should immediately mobilise his team more actively, including Youth chief Sukri Omar and information chief Yusfarizal Yussof.
So far, he claimed, their efforts have not been strong enough to convince coalition partners that Selangor PAS is truly ready to lead in the state.
“The question is simple: is Selangor PAS still not trusted enough, or are its own members failing to play their roles effectively?
“This is what is happening in the opposition today.
“At a time when the people are facing cost-of-living pressures, global economic challenges, and geopolitical uncertainty, they are still busy counting positions, arranging influence, and fighting among themselves,” he added.
In contrast, Danial said, the government remains focused on governance by discussing economic growth, addressing global crises, strengthening state investments, and ensuring the welfare of the people is protected. - Mkini
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