YOURSAY | ‘Let’s not pretend, PM candidate will be from PAS too.’

Samsuri new PN chair, PAS to replace Hamzah as opposition leader

DrKam: The appointment of Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar as the Perikatan Nasional chairperson feels a bit like when Ismail Sabri Yaakob became prime minister - technically in the chair but not exactly embraced by his own party president. It gives off awkward family dinner vibes.

If PAS secures both the opposition leader post and the PN chairmanship, then let’s not pretend - the prime ministerial candidate will come from PAS too.

Bersatu's Hamzah Zainudin is looking increasingly like expired stock. Samsuri is not even in the top two in PAS, with the internal “ulama versus non-ulama” season loading.

PN is officially led by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, so Muhyiddin Yassin and Hamzah now seem stuck auditioning for the role of PAS’ “friendly, less-scary window display”.

BlueLights: This is the new PAS playbook - PN chair, then opposition leader, and slowly but surely, they will prevail if ordinary Malaysians keep harping on DAP’s weaknesses.

DAP supporters must unite and bite the bullet, trust their current leadership. Two steps forward and one step backwards is far better than standing still.

DAP leaders have delivered more benefits for Malaysians and non-Malays than before, when there was only rhetoric and no results.

What is the point of leaders who shout loudly but achieve little, compared to those who work quietly?

Samsuri (above) will be remembered for introducing caning in his state. While he appears mild and amicable, he could not have become Terengganu menteri besar without Hadi’s backing and being his loyalist. Is this the man to govern Malaysia? Definitely not.

HoyoHoyo: The choice between Pakatan Harapan and PN is now clear. Samsuri as the new chair and Hamzah removed as opposition leader make it clearer. It is back to normal, just like after the Chinese New Year rhetoric.

Malays remain divided as usual. A new political party launching this week will further divide them. Non-Malays remain with Harapan. East Malaysians will choose the winner of the next general election. Life goes on.

Malay politics as usual. Everyone wants to be a leader. Most are unable and unacceptable in secular bolehland. They always forgot the East Malaysians and the non-Malays.

It's time to reset bolehland. Not only Malay unity. Global uncertainties and regional competitions are here. Another new Malay party coming up?

AsamPedas: Terengganu won all its seats not because of a capable menteri besar, but because of fear - that voters would not be given the key to heaven if they did not support PAS.

We have not seen a single case of good governance or even a proposition to achieve it.

It is always about intolerance, imbalance or separation. Put all of them together in a small barrel, and they would not match the capabilities of a single traditional national politician.

Pink: So they are still sticking with PN. It is now obvious that ideology, political direction and “struggle” were not the reasons for trying to topple Muhyiddin.

Bersatu remains ideologically the same, and Muhyiddin’s leadership style is unchanged. His willingness to step down as PN chair shows openness and humility. So why try to topple him if not for personal interests?

Strategically, it is very difficult for Hamzah and his group to survive. People do not know what they stand for.

PAS is equated with Islam, Umno with feudal Malay politics, Bersatu with progressive Malay politics, and PKR with liberal Malay politics.

Now Hamzah and his allies have no party, no vision, mission or philosophy to create identity and cohesion. Without these, they are heading for political oblivion.

PurpleMoose5046: The PN coalition - PAS, Bersatu, Gerakan and Malaysian Indian People's Party (MIPP) is getting weaker each day. Who becomes chair no longer matters, as there are serious internal cracks among the parties.

The depth of those cracks could read as either 67km or 619km, depending on the lens used — whether Malaysia’s Meteorological Department’s or the US Geological Survey’s.

Meanwhile, the unity government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also faces its own internal cracks and problems.

The government’s plate is full with corruption issues left behind by previous administrations, right up to the current one, across agencies, ministries and the civil service that must be investigated and resolved.

The depth and seriousness of these cracks could also read as either 67km or 619km, depending on the lens used.

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