KUALA LUMPUR – In a significant shift within Malaysia’s political landscape, 19 Members of Parliament, led by Larut MP Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, have formally declared their support for PAS Vice President Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar as the new Chairman of Perikatan Nasional (PN).
The endorsement follows a unanimous decision by the PN Supreme Council to appoint the Terengganu Menteri Besar as the coalition’s head, succeeding Bersatu President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who stepped down from the position on January 1st.
A Move for Strategic Consolidation
In a joint statement, the group of lawmakers described the appointment as a “serious consolidation step” aimed at fortifying the coalition’s role as a formidable opposition bloc. They emphasized that under Ahmad Samsuri’s leadership, the alliance remains committed to serving the public interest and nation-building.
The list of supporting MPs includes prominent figures such as:
- Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (Beluran)
- Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (Masjid Tanah)
- Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah (Indera Mahkota)
- Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (Machang)
Internal Realignment
This leadership transition comes at a turbulent time for the coalition. While Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has transitioned into the role of Deputy Chairman, internal frictions within Bersatu have become more apparent.
Notably, the show of support from Hamzah Zainudin comes just days after he and three other MPs were reportedly expelled from Bersatu on February 13th, following a leadership dispute with Muhyiddin.
By placing a PAS leader at the helm, Perikatan Nasional appears to be leaning into the grassroots strength of PAS to stabilize the coalition ahead of future political challenges.
