Perikatan Nasional's internal struggle has taken another turn as an AI-generated poster circulating on social media suggests that Bersatu is moving to challenge PAS' control of the opposition coalition.
Featuring an image of Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, the poster calls for a rally in support of the former prime minister at Bersatu headquarters in Petaling Jaya tonight, where Muhyiddin is supposedly returning as PN chairperson to chair its supreme council meeting.
While Bersatu secretary-general Azmin Ali has since denied such a plan, Malaysiakini gathered conflicting information from other party officials and leaders.
"I’m not too sure of the details myself actually. It was spread around this morning, but since then I’ve been informed it was cancelled," a Bersatu Youth exco member, who declined to be named, told Malaysiakini.
A party official said he was "not sure" as no such meeting is in his office's schedule, while another Bersatu Youth leader said the meeting is happening but not the rally.
"Not going. Apparently, the rally has been cancelled, but the meeting is still on," said a third Bersatu source.
Gerakan president Dominic Lau also indirectly confirmed the meeting, reportedly telling Sin Chew Daily that it was cancelled because Bersatu's legal team supposedly wants to iron out certain issues first.
On top of the supposed Muhyiddin-chaired meeting, a credible source from another PN component party claimed Muhyiddin's team has received confirmation from the authorities that he is still the recognised PN chairperson instead of Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.
However, PAS, through its secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, who is also PN's new secretary-general under Samsuri's leadership, had shot down the claim in a statement today.
According to Takiyuddin, he received a letter from the Registrar of Societies today, affirming the PN Supreme Council's decisions to appoint Samsuri and a new line-up of council members.
"Thus, it is hereby stressed that no activity or meeting shall be held in PN's name without PN chairperson’s permission," he said.
Why now?
While Muhyiddin’s resignation as PN chairperson in January paved the way for Samsuri to take over the post, an analyst suspects the call for a supreme council meeting could be an attempt to reverse the situation.
"Perhaps he wants to see who else supports him. If he can get Gerakan and MIPP behind him, then this would leave PAS alone, and he might be able to change the situation," said Azizuddin Sani.
According to the Universiti Utara Malaysia lecturer, this latest manoeuvre may stem from a combination of political survival instincts and Muhyiddin's emotional attachment to PN.
This followed Samsuri's decision to drop Muhyiddin loyalists Azmin Ali and Radzi Jidin from his new PN cabinet line-up, which Azizuddin believes is just the beginning of PAS' move to sideline and eventually push out Bersatu.
"Another possible factor is that since Muhyiddin formed PN, he might not be comfortable watching PAS simply taking over."
Similarly, Pacific Research Center Malaysia principal adviser Oh Ei Sun does not put it past Muhyiddin to attempt a takeover of PN.
"Muhyiddin has nothing much left to lose, so why not?" he said.
Political significance
Another political observer believes the latest incident might disturb the power dynamic in PN but with little benefit for Bersatu.
Azmi Hassan said even if Muhyiddin manages to pull it off, him taking control of the coalition would only drive away PAS and leave Bersatu with Gerakan and MIPP.
Despite being part of PN, both Gerakan and MIPP do not hold any parliamentary or state assembly seats and are often viewed as smaller partners within the coalition.
"The only good thing for Bersatu is it can continue to use the PN logo in the upcoming elections.
"But on the downside, PN would be left with the three parties, which does not help Bersatu because PAS is the one that gives PN its strength," said the Nusantara Strategic Research Academy senior fellow.
On the other hand, Oh said PAS could still "thrive quite comfortably" outside the coalition due to its strong branding. - Mkini
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