Now that Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin has resigned as the Perikatan Nasional chairperson, speculation is rife that PAS is set to take over in leading the coalition.
The Islamist party has so far kept mum on exactly which of its leaders would replace Muhyiddin, who has led PN since its formation in 2020.
Whoever leads the coalition will also likely become PN’s prime minister candidate in the 16th general election. However, this is not an ironclad rule.
Malaysiakini breaks down who the frontrunners are and why they’re eligible.
An unlikely senior
Yesterday, an unnamed Bersatu politician, while dismissing rumours that the opposition coalition is on the verge of collapse, told Malaysiakini that PAS will likely lead PN.
Looking at PAS’ leadership lineup, its president Abdul Hadi Awang might seem the obvious choice, but he turned 78 in October and underwent a medical procedure involving his heart in June.
His health issues are not new, as last year in February, Hadi’s aide said the Marang MP’s absence from the Dewan Rakyat opening ceremony was due to his recovery from health issues as well as follow-up treatments.
At the same time, PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin was quoted by Free Malaysia Today as saying that doctors have advised Hadi against travelling due to his heart problem and several other ailments.
Hadi has also excluded himself as a PN prime ministerial candidate, telling a press conference during the PAS muktamar in September that leaders must be healthy and below the age of 70.
Thus, he is likely to leave the job to a younger leader.
A seasoned option
A possible option could be PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.
During the muktamar, PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden named Tuan Ibrahim as his first choice for the prime ministerial position, citing the latter’s popularity within the party.
The Kubang Kerian MP is also the PN deputy chairperson, so a promotion could be seen as a logical step forward.
As he only turned 65 in August, he does meet Hadi’s age qualification as well.
Another potential point in his favour is his experience in a federal position - he served as the environment and water minister from 2020 to 2022.
He also seems to be viewed favourably within Bersatu, as then-supreme council member Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said in January that Tuan Ibrahim’s good relationship with the Pahang palace made him an ideal prime ministerial candidate.
Vouched by Dr M
One more name that tops the lists of PAS leaders poised to take on additional responsibilities is Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.
Samsuri, popularly known as Dr Sam, has served as the state leader since 2018, when he made his entry into politics by winning the Ru Rendang state seat.
Prior to that, he served as Hadi’s political secretary, starting in 2008.
The 55-year-old PAS vice-president gained attention as a possible national leader as early as December 2023, when two-time former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he had the qualifications to become a prime minister.
Mahathir made the remark during the Kemaman by-election, where Samsuri was running under the PN banner.
At the time, there was speculation that PN was grooming Samsuri to become a prime minister candidate, while others believed that it was merely a tactic to hype up support from voters.
Like with Tuan Ibrahim, Wan Fayhsal pointed to Samsuri as another potential prime minister with a good relationship with the royals.
Samsuri was previously the PN treasurer-general, but he resigned in December last year, two days after a coalition supreme council meeting to confirm appointments to fill the roles of secretary-general, women’s chief, information chief, and supreme council members.
The meeting saw Bersatu retaining all six major positions in PN, despite PAS requesting that the secretary-general post be given to Takiyuddin Hassan, who is also the PAS secretary-general.
Outside of that, Samsuri is popularly viewed as a technocrat due to his background as an aerospace engineer.
Most federal experience
PAS aside, there is one Bersatu politician who could end up leading PN: Hamzah Zainudin.
The Bersatu deputy president is at the centre of the party’s internal crisis, as there have been efforts to oust Muhyiddin as the party president and install Hamzah in his place.
PAS reportedly backed the efforts to elevate Hamzah, although the Islamist party has denied such claims.
However, Hamzah said he is willing to wait for Muhyiddin to hand over the presidency when the latter is ready.
Of all the names listed here, the 68-year-old opposition leader has the most experience in a federal administration:
Deputy housing and local governance minister (2008 to 2009),
Deputy plantation industries and community minister (2009 to 2013),
Deputy foreign affairs minister (2013 to 2015),
Domestic trade, cooperatives and consumerism minister (2015 to 2018), and
Home minister (2020 to 2022).
Hamzah began his political career in Umno but resigned in December 2018 to join Bersatu.
Notably, he has held his position as the Larut MP since 2008.
Issues remain
Although Muhyiddin’s resignation has soothed PAS’ ire at Bersatu’s involvement in usurping the role of the Perlis menteri besar, greater issues remain, such as the opposition’s prime ministerial candidate.
Other issues within the coalition that are unlikely to be resolved with a new PN chairperson include Bersatu’s ongoing faction war, as grassroots leaders continue to call for Muhyiddin to step down as the president in favour of Hamzah.
It also remains to be seen whether a new coalition leader will improve the relationship between Bersatu and PAS. - Mkini
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