Adrift 2 months, will PN find its captain this Sunday?

2026-02-20 - 01:23

Perikatan Nasional (PN) deputy secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan has confirmed that the coalition will hold an extraordinary meeting this Sunday, with the main agenda being the appointment of a new chairman — a post left vacant since Jan 1. He claimed that component parties, including Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP), have agreed to have PAS lead the coalition, replacing Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin. Takiyuddin said a candidate for the position has already been identified but declined to reveal the name. According to Bersatu’s preference, the successor should be a party president. However, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has declined the nomination due to health reasons. This leaves PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man or vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar — both previously named by Muhyiddin as the coalition’s future prime minister candidate — as possible successors. The question now is whether Bersatu, Gerakan and MIPP have accepted the nomination of a leader who is not a party president. Based on Takiyuddin’s statement, the matter should no longer be contentious. This would mean the meeting at PAS headquarters is merely a formality to endorse the decision, with no further objections expected. However, if Bersatu maintains its stance, minor friction could escalate into a fresh crisis within PN. Given the recent war of words between leaders from Bersatu and PAS, the coalition will undoubtedly want to avoid any episode that could tarnish its image ahead of the 16th general election (GE16). Such tensions could be diffused if Hadi were to make a U-turn and agree to lead PN, potentially positioning himself as the coalition’s prime ministerial candidate. The Hamzah factor The sacking of Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin from the party has added further intrigue to the leadership transition, particularly as he may technically still hold