Hadi’s protege Samsuri takes helm of Malaysia’s Perikatan Nasional after Muhyiddin exit

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s main opposition alliance on Feb 22 appointed Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar as its new chairman, following weeks of uncertainty

after the resignation

of former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

The decision was made at an extraordinary meeting of Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) supreme council held at the Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) headquarters, breaking with the longstanding agreement that the chairman must be a president of one of its component parties by appointing the Islamist party’s vice-president.

PN deputy secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said the council on Feb 22 first approved Muhyiddin’s resignation, which took effect from Jan 1, 2026, before unanimously appointing Datuk Seri Samsuri to the post with immediate effect.

“It was informed that the meeting approved the resignation effective January 2026. The meeting then unanimously agreed to appoint Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar as the new Perikatan Nasional chairman with immediate effect,” he told a press conference.

Mr Takiyuddin said the decision was reached within 30 minutes of the meeting’s beginning, describing the atmosphere as harmonious.

The meeting was attended by all supreme council members, including the presidents of its four component parties: Muhyiddin of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Tan Sri Hadi Awang of PAS, Mr Dominic Lau of Gerakan and Mr P. Punithan of the Malaysian Indian People’s Party.

PN is currently the largest opposition bloc in Parliament and the main challenger to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s multiracial ruling coalition.

The leadership change came as the coalition seeks to project unity and renew its strategy after more than five years under Muhyiddin’s stewardship.

Addressing questions on why Dr Samsuri was chosen and whether other names were considered, Mr Takiyuddin said the coalition’s Constitution does not restrict the chairmanship to party presidents or deputies.

“Under the Perikatan Nasional Constitution, it is not stated who can be appointed as chairman. This means anyone from PN can be chosen by the supreme council. It does not have to be a president or deputy president. It means whoever,” he said when addressing the press later.

He added that PAS backed Dr Samsuri based on his credentials and recent electoral record.

“PAS took the view of the strengths that Dr Samsuri has. He is a Menteri Besar and a two-term MP. He also demonstrated strong performance in the 15th General Election and the Terengganu state polls. Those are among the criteria why PAS chose Dr Samsuri,” he said.

Fallout in Bersatu

The transition follows weeks of tension within Bersatu, widely

seen as a power struggle

between Muhyiddin and his deputy, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, who was later sacked.

A series of disciplinary actions exposed factional lines between leaders aligned with both camps, underscoring internal strain as PN prepares for the next general election.

The turbulence has raised questions about Bersatu’s ability to anchor the coalition as it once did. PN came to power in 2020 after a political realignment that brought Muhyiddin to power during the Covid-19 pandemic. Although it no longer led the federal government after 2021 and did not return to power in the 2022 General Election, the alliance retained control of several states.

Against the backdrop, PAS, the largest party within PN in terms of parliamentary seats, now leads the coalition.

“What happened in Bersatu, particularly the fallout between Muhyiddin and Hamzah, made restructuring inevitable. PAS was in a stronger position to lead,” said Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk, director of University Sains Malaysia’s Centre for Policy Research.

PAS takes the lead

Dr Samsuri’s rise formalises that shift.

An aerospace engineer by training who holds a doctorate, Dr Samsuri has cultivated a more administrative and technocratic image in the north-eastern state of Terengganu since taking office in 2018.

He previously served as political secretary to PAS president Hadi when the latter was Terengganu Menteri Besar from 1999 to 2004, and is widely regarded as Mr Hadi’s protege and trusted lieutenant.

In a statement after his appointment, Dr Samsuri described the responsibility as “immense, heavy and challenging”, adding that consolidation would be his immediate focus.

“What must be expedited at this critical juncture is the consolidation of this political consensus, alongside the implementation of structural and operational enhancements that will position PN as the nucleus of the people’s hopes,” he said.

Universiti Malaya socio-political analyst Awang Azman Awang Pawi said Dr Samsuri’s profile could help calibrate PN’s tone.

“It suggests a shift towards a more technocratic and less confrontational leadership style,” he said, adding that Dr Samsuri’s administrative record allows PN to show it can govern, not just oppose.

For PAS, the appointment is historic. The party has participated in coalitions before, including Muafakat Nasional, a Malay-Muslim political pact formed with UMNO in 2019.

But it was never in control of the alliance’s direction.

“This is PAS’ first time being in the driver’s seat.

“Whether Samsuri’s appointment would pull more non-Malay votes remains to be seen,” Dr Azeem said.

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