Bersatu division pushes for Hamzah to replace Muhyiddin as president

Summary

• Port Dickson Bersatu division passes a motion calling for deputy president Hamzah Zainudin to replace Muhyiddin Yassin as party president, suggesting that the latter take on an advisory role instead.

• Division deputy chief Akkil Aizat Othman criticises Bersatu’s leadership for failing to address national issues.

• However, Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal says most grassroots divisions back Muhyiddin to lead until GE16.

A Bersatu division approved a motion for party deputy president Hamzah Zainudin to take over as party president, with Muhyiddin Yassin taking on an advisory role.

Port Dickson Bersatu division deputy chief Akkil Aizat Othman said the present leadership lineup has failed to address issues experienced by Malaysians.

Using the analogy of a badminton match, he said this was equivalent to delivering an improper serve, causing the shuttlecock to fall onto their side of the court and awarding points to the opponent.

“So I feel that this is the appropriate time for the deputy president (Hamzah) to carry out his responsibility as the opposition leader, and the power transition from the president to the deputy president can be done smoothly,” he said in a TikTok video today.

He denied that this had anything to do with Muhyiddin’s prowess as a leader, describing the former prime minister as “super awesome”.

Yesterday, Muhyiddin, who is also the Perikatan Nasional chairperson, denied allegations that PAS is backing a plan to undermine his control of the opposition coalition.

He said as far as he knows, he has the support of PAS - including its president, Abdul Hadi Awang - to continue serving as PN chairperson.

Support for Muhyiddin

In a separate statement, Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz said the majority of the party’s grassroots support Muhyiddin to lead the party till the next general election.

This was based on unofficial announcements from the party’s divisions, he said.

“The party headquarters is in the process of collecting all the proposals from each division and will examine the proposals brought by each division nationwide.

“There are 202 divisions nationwide,” he said.

Bersatu’s focus remains on ousting Anwar Ibrahim as the prime minister and strengthening the party ahead of GE16, he added.

Significant operational powers

Last month, Malaysiakini reported that PAS proposed restructuring PN to grant Hamzah significant operational powers.

Under the proposed changes, an executive committee helmed by Hamzah would be formed to oversee PN’s operations, while the presidents of PAS, Bersatu, Gerakan, and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party would retain their roles in the existing supreme council.

According to sources, the move is designed to position Hamzah as PN’s prime ministerial candidate, ready to take the reins if the coalition captures Putrajaya in the next general election.

However, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan denied such plans were afoot.

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