Perikatan Nasional faces its gravest crisis as Muhyiddin Yassin and senior Bersatu leaders resign, exposing deep fractures with PAS and threatening the coalition’s stability.
KUALA LUMPUR: The resignation of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and several senior Bersatu leaders from Perikatan Nasional signals the coalition’s most serious political crisis since its formation.
Tensions within the coalition, comprising Bersatu, PAS, Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party, have intensified with the mass resignations.
The crisis erupted from turmoil in the Perlis state administration, which saw the Menteri Besar’s post shift from PAS to Bersatu.
That move, labelled a “backstab”, fuelled dissatisfaction within PAS, prompting calls for Muhyiddin to step down.
Universiti Malaya analyst Prof Datuk Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the drastic steps reflect fractures in trust between PN’s two main pillars.
“Differences in approaches to power-sharing, state leadership and political survival strategies have exposed misaligned interests between the two parties,” he said.
Awang Azman added that such developments have eroded public confidence, particularly among fence-sitters and young voters.
“PN risks being seen as a coalition losing influence and trapped in internal conflict, rather than one ready to govern,” he said.
Geostrategist Assoc Prof Dr Azmi Hassan said if Muhyiddin’s resignation stemmed from PAS pressure, the PN chairmanship would likely fall to a PAS leader.
“Should PAS lead PN, perceptions among neutral supporters may shift, as PAS is often viewed as more hardline,” he told Bernama.
Azmi noted that PAS figures have yet to demonstrate the capacity to manage complex national-level politics.
He said the crisis could worsen if the PN chairmanship is not handed to PAS but to another figure, such as Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s Assoc Prof Dr Mazlan Ali said Muhyiddin’s resignation was not unexpected, given mounting pressure within Bersatu.
“The key question now is who is capable of leading PN,” he said.
He noted tensions have been driven by disputes over the prime ministerial candidate and political positioning in Sabah and Perlis.
Mazlan said the situation has fuelled speculation that PAS may eventually leave the coalition, raising the risk of PN’s collapse.
“PAS’s decision not to take up posts in the Perlis State Cabinet also suggests deep frustration,” he added.
Muhyiddin announced his resignation effective Jan 1, 2026, after leading the coalition for five years.
This was followed by resignation announcements from other PN leaders, including Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali as PN secretary-general.
PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man confirmed the party will submit several names for consideration as the new PN chairman.
PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said the party has offered to lead PN to strengthen its organisation.
Grassroots pressure has also surfaced, with Selangor PAS Youth urging the party to reassess its cooperation with Bersatu.
Johor PKR Youth chief Faezuddin Puad described the resignations as clear evidence of the coalition’s fragility.
“Politics that is continuously mired in internal conflict and power manoeuvring only adds to uncertainty,” he said.
