How Muhyiddin outmanoeuvred PAS

2026-01-30 - 23:16

I have long regarded Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the shrewdest politician this nation has ever known; but is Muhyiddin Yassin poised to take over that mantle? Unlike Mahathir, who once wielded absolute control over Barisan Nasional, the Bersatu president enjoys no such luxury. Yet, despite this disadvantage, Muhyiddin has quietly outmanoeuvred PAS and his Bersatu deputy Hamzah Zainudin, to stand seemingly on the brink of reclaiming a powerful post in Perikatan Nasional — just a month after resigning as its chairman. At the time of writing, Muhyiddin appears likely to be appointed to chair PN’s presidential council. But how did he do it? The first masterstroke was when he decided to tender his resignation, catching his own party Bersatu, PAS and even unity government leaders off guard. That move also put PAS in less flattering light. Despite having the biggest share of seats in the Dewan Rakyat and the opposition coalition’s linchpin, PAS appears unable to dictate events even after Muhyiddin’s resignation. The second masterstroke was Muhyiddin’s silence even after PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang declared that his party would take over the reins in PN, making the latter’s claim reek of arrogance. Almost one month later,