PETALING JAYA: Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim says Bersatu and PAS presidents Muhyiddin Yassin and Abdul Hadi Awang should step down after Perikatan Nasional’s loss in last night’s Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.
Pakatan Harapan’s Pang Sock Tao received 14,000 votes to clinch the by-election with a 3,869-vote majority over PN candidate Khairul Azhari Saut (10,131).
The other candidates – independent Nyau Ke Xin and Hafizah Zainuddin of Parti Rakyat Malaysia – lost their deposits.
In a post on X today, Zaid said Muhyiddin and Hadi, both of whom are 76 years old, should make way for younger leaders with fresh ideas. Muhyiddin is the PN chief while Hadi is one of his deputies.
“Looking back, PH won big because PN had nothing to offer; absolutely nothing. The leaders are very old, not just in age but in ideas (too),” he said.
“Muhyiddin constantly talked about his considerable achievements as a national leader (when he was the prime minister), but that’s in the past. What does he have to offer for the future? Nothing. It’s time he steps down.
“Hadi only talks about the fear of DAP (and) of what happened to the Malays in Singapore. These scare tactics no longer work. It’s time he steps down.”
Muhyiddin’s about-turn at last year’s Bersatu general assembly, during which he first said he would not recontest the president’s post, was seen as an attempt by the Pagoh MP to hang on to the PN chairmanship in the hope of returning as prime minister.
Hadi’s continuing ill health – he had been admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) for treatment several times over recent years – has fuelled speculation about his potential successor.
‘Bersatu lacks focus, PAS unable to offer economic master plan’
Zaid said Bersatu lacks focus and is unable to show that it can lead the country in the future.
He said it also “offers nothing new” except political alliances with smaller parties such as Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP).
He also said the ulamas in PAS should step aside to allow younger leaders a chance to revitalise the party.
The former Kota Bharu MP said PAS has failed to capitalise on Islam as a social and economic catalyst and has been unable to offer an economic master plan that can win votes.
He also said the party should “stop behaving like a cult movement with stale messages”, calling on it to rebrand itself as a dynamic political party that understands voters’ needs.
“Bersatu and PAS must start changing their leaders now,” he said.
“Have an extraordinary congress (and) bring in a new set of real political leaders who can give Anwar Ibrahim a fight.” - FMT
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