Sanusi: Muhyiddin's resignation not official until PN meeting's greenlight

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation as Perikatan Nasional chairperson has not yet been formally confirmed, according to the coalition’s election director, Sanusi Nor.

Sanusi, who is also the Kedah menteri besar, said that while the former prime minister had announced his decision to step down from the PN leadership position, the matter will only be finalised following a meeting with the coalition’s leaders.

“Based on PN’s constitution, the resignation must be (discussed) in a meeting, so officially, the resignation is not yet valid,” the PAS man told reporters in Alor Setar today.

“The resignation will have to be accepted during the meeting; only then will it be valid. If the meeting suddenly makes a decision contrary (to Muhyiddin’s move), then he will remain, even though he has already told the whole world.”

Sanusi added that PN is expected to hold its meeting within less than a week from now.

On Dec 30, Muhyiddin confirmed his intention to resign as the PN chairperson effective Jan 1.

The decision came amid boiling tensions between PAS and Bersatu, after Bersatu leaders in Perlis initiated a coup, which led to PAS losing hold over the state government.

Amid the perceived infighting within PN, PAS leaders had threatened to either quit the opposition coalition and pursue a fresh alliance with Umno or to take over the PN leadership themselves.

Following Muhyiddin’s resignation as PN chairperson, however, tempers had cooled between the two parties, with Muhyiddin’s decision appearing to ease the standoff as PAS leaders adopted a softer tone in apologies to the Pagoh MP.

PN leadership

While Sanusi claims that the resignation is not yet official, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang on Dec 2 had indicated that the party is poised to assume leadership of the opposition coalition, noting that several names, including his own, were being considered to replace Muhyiddin.

However, Hadi admitted being in poor health, stressing that PAS has a list of other capable leaders for the position, including technocrats.

Muhyiddin and PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, who is also the Terengganu menteri besar, had held a “casual meeting” yesterday amid speculation on who will become the next PN chairperson.

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