Gerakan, MIPP against PAS taking over PN chair, says Muhyiddin’s ex-aide

2026-02-01 - 05:26

Marzuki Mohamad, the former principal private secretary to Muhyiddin Yassin, said Gerakan and MIPP saw Muhyiddin’s leadership of the coalition as a way to balance PAS’s more ‘hardline’ Islamic image. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA: Muhyiddin Yassin’s former principal private secretary has revealed that Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) were opposed to a PAS leader taking over as Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman after he stepped down on Jan 1. Marzuki Mohamad said he attended a Jan 16 gathering at Bersatu president Muhyiddin’s residence, where senior PAS leaders and Muhyiddin discussed ending the “deadlock” on the vacant post. “PAS wanted the PN chairman’s post, but this was opposed by two other component parties, Gerakan and MIPP,” Marzuki wrote on Facebook. “As a way forward, the meeting decided to strengthen the role of the PN presidential council, led by Muhyiddin, and to establish a PN executive council, to be led by a candidate nominated by PAS. “This proposal was agreed upon by Gerakan and MIPP, who saw Muhyiddin’s position as chairman of the presidential council as a way to balance PAS’s more ‘hardline’ Islamic image. Thus, the PN crisis was resolved, and the PN constitution would be amended accordingly.” Muhyiddin didn’t lie about abolishing PN chairman post Marzuki also defended Muhyiddin against claims that the former prime minister lied about the abolition of the PN chairman’s post, an issue that has sparked calls within Bersatu for disciplinary action. In a leaked letter, Muhyiddin stated that Bersatu and PAS had agreed to abolish the PN chairman’s post as part of the coalition’s restructuring as discussed during the Jan 16 meeting. He added that the presidential council, headed by Bersatu, would be the highest decision-making body in PN, while an executive council led by PAS would manage administrative matters. PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man denied Muhyiddin’s claim, saying the issue of abolishing