State chairman picks show Muhyiddin still PN’s power broker, says analyst

 Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri says the Bersatu president’s early submission of nominees under his party’s quota is like 'closing the door before anyone can knock'.

Two days ago, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin said the names of candidates for state chiefs in six states had been submitted to PN chairman Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 Bersatu’s move to propose names for the Perikatan Nasional (PN) state chairmanships in six states can be seen as a strategic move to keep the coalition’s political power firmly in its grip, says an analyst.

Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri said the move went beyond mere appointments, signalling that Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin remains “the main power broker” in PN despite no longer holding the coalition chairmanship.

“This early announcement is no coincidence. It is a pre-emptive step to shut down space for power struggles, particularly speculation surrounding Hamzah Zainudin’s camp.

“While it is unlikely for now that Hamzah’s faction will join PN, Muhyiddin wants to ensure that Bersatu’s power structure remains unchallenged. By moving early, he is effectively closing the door before anyone can knock.

“In reality, Muhyiddin is playing political chess. Relinquishing the PN chairmanship is merely cosmetic – real power still lies with him.

“By placing state chairmanships under Bersatu’s quota, he ensures that PN remains within his orbit of control. This is not about consensus, but dominance,” Zaharuddin told FMT.

Two days ago, Muhyiddin said the names of candidates for state chiefs in six states had been submitted to PN chairman Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, stressing that the posts fall under Bersatu’s quota.

The states involved are Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, and Sabah.

Zaharuddin, of Global Asia Consulting, said insisting that the state chairmanships fall under Bersatu’s quota shows that the party is unwilling to share key influence with PAS or other factions in the coalition.

He said the proposed reappointment of Azmin Ali as Selangor PN chief signalled Bersatu’s intent to retain veteran figures still deemed relevant, despite their less-than-convincing electoral track records.

“A state chairman only matters if he can deliver seats. Muhyiddin himself has acknowledged that PN needs to win more seats to capture Selangor.

“Real power lies not in the title, but in the ability to mobilise machinery and win over voters. Without that, a chairman is merely a figurehead,” Zaharuddin said.

Meanwhile, Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said Bersatu’s ambition to retain control of the PN chairmanships in the six states might not be as straightforward, given its internal issues and the growing influence of a faction linked to Hamzah.

He said Bersatu’s push for the state chairmanships, including its nomination of Azmin for Selangor, faced significant challenges as the party was no longer as strong as it once was.

He said a key question was whether Hamzah’s new party would join the coalition. If that happens, Bersatu is almost certain to object, as the party led by its former deputy president might demand seats traditionally contested by Bersatu, he said.

“Fundamentally, if Hamzah becomes part of PN, his camp will demand all of the seats currently contested by Bersatu. Bersatu will not accept that, and it will create a new dilemma in PN.

“And when Bersatu is already demanding six state chairmanships, it is a big ask, given that the party is no longer what it used to be,” he said.

Mazlan added that if Hamzah’s party joined PN, he would almost certainly seek state chair posts for his faction, potentially triggering internal tensions and disputes. - FMT