Move not unilateral Bersatu decision but executed with input from partners, says Pahang Perikatan chief
PETALING JAYA: In what party insiders have described as a calculated move to tighten control, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has turned to Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man to anchor Pahang Perikatan Nasional (PN), a decision seen as both tactical and telling.
Tuan Ibrahim described the reshuffle of several state PN chairmen announced on Monday as a routine adjustment, saying the decision followed discussions among the coalition’s top leadership.
He stressed that the move is intended to strengthen the coalition rather than sideline any individual.
“I have no issues with (former Pahang PN chairman) Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah.
Our relationship remains good.
“However, since Saifuddin is no longer Pahang Bersatu chairman, the position is now held by Rompin MP Datuk Abdul Khalid Abdullah following Bersatu’s internal elections last year.
That may be one of the reasons I was chosen to lead PN in Pahang,” he said.
He added that the reshuffle was not a unilateral Bersatu decision but one made with input from other coalition partners.
“We in PAS were the ones who proposed replacing the Perlis PN chairman with Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim,” he said.
The Cheka assemblyman, who also serves as Pahang legislative assembly opposition leader, dismissed speculation that state PN chairmen would automatically be named as menteri besar candidates in the next state election.
“Not necessarily.
That has not been decided,” he said.
PN secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali announced the reshuffle in a statement on Monday.
Apart from Saifuddin, two state PN chairmen were replaced.
Former Perlis PN chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Ramli was succeeded by Shahidan while former Malacca PN chairman Dr Mohd Fadzil Yaakub was replaced by Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin.
In his statement, Azmin confirmed the positions of other state PN chairmen, such as Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal in Johor, Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor in Kedah, Datuk Ahmad Yakob in Kelantan, Mohamed Hanifah Abu Baker in Negeri Sembilan, Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu in Perak, Datuk Dr Dominic Lau in Penang, Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee in Sabah, Jaziri Alkaf Abdillah Suffian in Sarawak, himself (Mohamed Azmin) in Selangor, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar in Terengganu and Datuk Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin in the Federal Territories.
Saifuddin’s removal comes amid his recent public criticism of Muhyiddin and calls for the Bersatu president to step down.
However, in a clear show of loyalty amid PN’s internal realignments, Saifuddin has thrown his support behind Tuan Ibrahim, who replaces him as Pahang PN chairman.
“Although I am no longer Pahang PN chairman, I have offered the Indera Mahkota parliamentary service centre to continue serving as the secretariat office for PN Pahang assemblymen.”
He said he personally congratulated Tuan Ibrahim on the appointment and pledged to back his leadership in strengthening the coalition’s position in the state.
He described the leadership change as part of efforts to inject fresh energy into the state leadership.
He added that the reshuffle reflects PN’s broader push to consolidate its presence in Pahang under the banner of “PN Teraju Pahang”.
Saifuddin remains PN Indera Mahkota division chief and also heads the Bersatu division there.
