Growing unease in Perikatan Nasional leadership over prime ministerial candidate
TENSION appear to be mounting within the leadership of PN, as differences emerge between PAS and Bersatu over the coalition’s leadership heading into the GE16.
(Focus Malaysia) – The ongoing debate centers on who should be the coalition’s prime ministerial candidate, exposing a potential rift between the two main parties in PN.
PAS, emboldened by its growing parliamentary strength, has openly questioned Bersatu’s assertion that former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin remains the undisputed choice to lead PN into the next general election.
The Islamist party’s spiritual leader, Datuk Hashim Jasin, argued that PAS is better positioned to lead the coalition, citing its 43 parliamentary seats compared to Bersatu’s 25 and its robust grassroots machinery nationwide.
“Considering leadership qualifications, I believe PAS is better suited to lead, given our larger number of seats and stronger nationwide machinery,” Hashim said in an interview with Utusan Malaysia.
He further emphasised that such a critical decision must be made collectively and not unilaterally by Bersatu.
This follows remarks by Bersatu Vice President Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, who unequivocally declared Muhyiddin as PN’s sole candidate for prime minister, dismissing any alternative proposals.
“It goes without saying that Muhyiddin will continue to lead our party. We have had no discussions at all about his successor,” Ahmad Faizal said in an interview with Free Malaysia Today.
Despite Muhyiddin’s uncontested re-election as Bersatu president and the strong endorsement from the party’s ranks, PAS leaders appear increasingly impatient with their perceived subordinate role in PN.
Although PAS controls the majority of PN’s parliamentary seats and all its state governments, its leader, Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, holds only a vice-chairman position within the coalition.
Leadership Divide
The crux of the issue lies in PAS’s belief that it has earned the right to lead PN due to its electoral dominance.
In the last general election, a wave of support for PAS—dubbed the “green wave” due to the party’s signature color—was widely credited with PN’s near-success in forming the federal government.
However, Bersatu leaders argue that Muhyiddin’s leadership experience and national recognition make him the ideal candidate to lead PN into GE16.
Wan Saiful Wan Jan, a Bersatu Supreme Council member, reiterated the party’s firm stance that Muhyiddin remains the coalition’s “poster boy,” noting that his leadership during times of political, economic, and health crises was invaluable.
“100% of Bersatu members want Muhyiddin to keep leading, so it’s irrelevant to discuss his replacement when everyone wants him to stay in charge,” Wan Saiful said.
What it all means
The growing unease between PAS and Bersatu raises questions about the coalition’s cohesion ahead of GE16.
Political analysts have warned that such public disagreements could undermine PN’s credibility and its ability to present a unified front to voters.
While PAS argues that its grassroots strength and parliamentary majority position it as the natural leader of PN, Bersatu remains steadfast in its support for Muhyiddin as the coalition’s face and leader.
With GE16 still three years away, the tension between the two parties could deepen unless both sides reach a consensus on PN’s leadership direction.
The challenge now lies in reconciling these differences without fracturing the coalition, especially as PN prepares to challenge the incumbent government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Whether PAS and Bersatu can bridge their divide will likely determine PN’s prospects in the next election.
