PETALING JAYA: The Perikatan Nasional Supreme Council will finally meet on Sunday (Feb 22) at 3pm, with all top leaders expected to show up — the first time since the Perlis-Mentri Besar imbroglio in December last year.
All top leaders of the four component parties - namely Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, Gerakan president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau and MIPP president P Punithan - are expected to attend.
Sources said that the PAS headquarters at Jalan Raja Laut in Kuala Lumpur has been busy since morning, as the meeting will take place there.
"PAS leaders will have their own meeting before the Perikatan meeting, to ensure everyone is on the same page
"This meeting will be a show of Perikatan's unity and force, and a statement to its rivals that Perikatan is here to stay, no matter what has happened," the source said.
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The meeting will bring most of Perikatan leaders together, after months of turmoil, excluding Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin, who was recently sacked from his party.
It has been said that it will be held mainly to decide on Muhyiddin's resignation as its chairman and the appointment of his successor.
"PAS is expected to nominate its deputy president and Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar as its only candidate for the post, whereas other PN components are expected to push Muhyiddin to stay on despite his resignation," said the source.
A Bersatu leader, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that Bersatu is expected to play hardball, but Perikatan's priorities will ultimately be the top consideration.
"Bersatu leaders definitely want Muhyiddin to stay on, but he has made up his mind to leave. However, we will consider the best options should PAS really want to take over Perikatan.
"We have our full faith in Muhyiddin wanting the best for our party and coalition. The party has entrusted him with our mandate to decide for us," says the Bersatu leader.
Since the Perlis impasse, things have not been so rosy between Hadi Awang and Muhyiddin.
Bersatu allegedly plotted the ousting of PAS Mentri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli and appointed Abu Bakar Hamzah, one of their own, in place.
Muhyiddin had then resigned on Jan 1, stating that PAS's leaders had called for him to give up his post.
However, he had disagreed with anyone else but a party president to be his successor, after PAS was rumoured to nominate Ahmad Samsuri.
Muhyiddin's axing of Hamzah on Feb 13 also saw Hamzah and his camp cosying up to Abdul Hadi.
