KUALA LUMPUR: The question of who would become prime minister if Perikatan Nasional were to form the government took centre stage in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday afternoon (Oct 13).
While Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin was debating the 2026 Supply Bill, Khoo Poay Tiong (PH–Kota Melaka) interjected to ask who the opposition’s prime ministerial candidate would be.
Hamzah initially declined to answer, but later said all opposition MPs were already aware of their candidate.
“If you really want to know, all of us here already know who our prime minister candidate is. If Kota Melaka wants to find out, then join PN,” he said.
However, Khoo argued that the opposition itself appeared uncertain about who would assume the role.
“Based on Larut’s (Hamzah) answer, it means they don’t actually know who it is,” he said.
Hamzah then accused Khoo of attempting to disrupt his speech.
“Even if I tell him, he wouldn’t vote for us anyway. So there’s no need to be nosy. This is our business, don’t interfere,” he said.
A brief moment of camaraderie was also seen in the Lower House when Hamzah and Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (PN-Pagoh) shared a handshake, amid speculation of a rift between the two.
The handshake occurred shortly after Hamzah praised Muhyiddin’s administration during his debate on Budget 2026.
“Who said we were quarrelling?” Hamzah remarked, responding to interjections about the alleged strained ties with the Pagoh MP, who was seated beside him in the House.
The debate over Perikatan’s prime ministerial candidate emerged after Bersatu passed a motion on Sept 7 naming Muhyiddin as the coalition’s choice for the 11th prime minister during its annual general assembly.
However, on Sept 12, PAS Youth proposed that the party’s deputy president, Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, be considered Perikatan’s top choice for prime minister.
This came after PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang expressed his intention not to assume the role, and the party’s delegates unanimously endorsed a motion calling for PAS to lead Perikatan and the country.
Following that, Muhyiddin, who is also the Pagoh MP, said Perikatan’s top leadership would hold discussions to decide on the coalition’s prime ministerial candidate.
