Former Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin's emergence as a government opponent has sparked speculation that he should take over as opposition leader.

However, when asked at a press conference if this would be the case, Muhyiddin pointed to PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who was sitting beside him, and said, "She is the opposition leader."

This was Muhyiddin and Wan Azizah's first public appearance together.

The two were rather chummy today, with the former deputy premier calling the opposition leader "Kak Wan."

Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim on Thursday openly called for Muhyiddin to lead the opposition, saying that Pakatan Harapan lacked one clear leader to unite them all.

Muhyiddin is currently expected to lead a new party made up mostly of Umno rebels disenfranchised with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has said that the new party would form a new grand coalition with the other opposition parties in Pakatan Harapan.

The two sides are currently working together, as well as with civil society leaders, in their personal capacities as part of Mahathir's Save Malaysia movement.

However, the new alliance has yet to make a big impact in national politics, as evidenced by last month's Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections.

The two contests, which saw fights between BN, PAS, and the Save Malaysia-backed Amanah, resulted in major victories for the ruling coalition.

This was despite Mahathir billing the polls as a referendum on Najib's leadership.