PN Chair Race: Who Next After Muhyiddin?

A leadership vacuum has emerged within Malaysia’s Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition following Muhyiddin Yassin’s impending resignation as chairperson, prompting a succession debate within the opposition bloc.

Succession Debate Begins

Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) has expressed its readiness to lead the coalition, with party leaders indicating they will nominate a candidate to replace Muhyiddin. However, political observers question whether any potential PAS replacement possesses the necessary broad appeal to lead the coalition into the 16th general election (GE16), which must be held by February 2028.

Muhyiddin Yassin, who served as Malaysia’s eighth prime minister from March 2020 to August 2021, announced on Tuesday (Dec 30) his resignation as PN chairman, effective January 1.

Shortly after Muhyiddin’s announcement, former international trade and industry minister Mohamed Azmin Ali also resigned as the coalition’s secretary-general and as chairman of the Selangor State PN Liaison Committee. Further resignations from Bersatu followed, including Faizal Azumu as Perak PN chairman, Sahruddin Jamal as Johor PN chairman, and Hanifah Abu Baker as Negeri Sembilan PN chairman.

Concerns Over Appeal to Non-Malay Voters

Political analyst Awang Azman Awang Pawi of Universiti Malaya (UM) noted that Muhyiddin’s departure raises questions about who will inherit the position of de facto prime minister candidate for GE16. Awang Azman questioned the acceptability of potential candidates from both parties, particularly given PAS’s stated interest in taking the leadership role.

“In a multi-racial society like Malaysia, the optics of a PAS prime minister (candidate) would not help the coalition gain more votes in constituencies where there are many non-Malay voters,” Awang Azman said. He added that the situation could lead to conflict and potentially the collapse of PN.

PN, formed in February 2020, comprises four component parties: Bersatu, PAS, Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia, and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party. Bersatu and PAS are considered the dominant forces within the coalition.

Muhyiddin Yassin, 78, is the president of Bersatu, while Azmin is its party secretary-general. Bersatu supreme council member Saifuddin Abdullah, who has been critical of Muhyiddin, believes PAS taking over the chairman position would not be problematic, citing their existing leadership roles in several states and the fact that some Bersatu members ran under the PAS logo in recent elections.

Recent Political Crisis in Perlis

Muhyiddin’s resignation follows a recent political crisis in the state of Perlis, where PN controls the state assembly. The crisis involved the resignation of PAS’ Sanglang assemblyman Mohd Shukri Ramli as chief minister, replaced by Abu Bakar Hamzah of Bersatu.

Shukri’s resignation followed the signing of eight statutory declarations by state assemblymen – three from PAS and five from Bersatu – retracting their support for him. The three PAS assemblymen who signed the declarations have since been sacked by the Islamist party.

Currently, Perlis’ state assembly consists of 15 seats, with PAS holding six, Bersatu holding five, and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) holding one. Some PAS members have criticized Bersatu’s actions as a “backstabbing” betrayal and have called for a severing of ties with Bersatu at all levels.

The ruler of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, called on Sunday for an end to speculation and allegations “for the good of the state.”