PETALING JAYA: All eyes will be on PAS headquarters today as Perikatan Nasional leaders convene to decide on a new Opposition Leader and coalition chief, a move analysts say could reshape the bloc’s trajectory ahead of the next general election.
Top Perikatan component leaders, including PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Gerakan president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau, are expected to attend the extraordinary supreme council meeting at 3pm.
While senior leaders have remained tight-lipped, sources said PAS is likely to nominate its vice-president and Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar as the next Perikatan chief, though some outside the party are pushing for Abdul Hadi instead.
“This will depend on the outcome of the meeting,” said a source.
The post of Opposition Leader is up for the taking after Muhyiddin announced his resignation as Perikatan chairman on Dec 30 last year.
On Feb 21, Abdul Hadi said the party’s immediate priority is to stabilise Perikatan, which is facing internal strain following disputes over its new chairman and growing tensions within Bersatu.
On Feb 13, Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said in a statement that the party’s supreme council had been informed that the disciplinary board decided to expel its former deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin under Clause 22.5 of the Bersatu’s constitution.
Azmin said the decision was made as the Larut MP had breached Clause 9.1.4 of the party’s constitution.
Abdul Hadi had previously admitted that both Muhyiddin and Hamzah had met him separately, adding that both leaders had merely conveyed their respective position and views.
Universiti Malaya socio-political analyst Professor Datuk Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the meeting comes at a critical juncture following internal crisis and shifting dynamics in the opposition leadership.
“This is not merely a routine coordination session, but a test of coalition cohesion and future direction.”
He added that three key issues are likely to dominate the meeting; leadership clarity within Perikatan, PAS’ positioning and electoral strategy.
“PAS now holds stronger leverage within the coalition. The tone and outcome of the meeting will signal whether PAS intends to consolidate its dominance or preserve coalition balance.
“With upcoming state contests and a general election on the horizon, Perikatan must decide whether to project stability or risk appearing fragmented,” he said.
“If internal disagreements surface publicly, it may reinforce perceptions that the bloc is entering a period of structural recalibration or even gradual fragmentation.”
Political analyst Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia said the decision on the next Perikatan chairman is crucial in signalling unity and readiness for the coming elections.
“If the successor is from PAS, it suggests the party is consolidating its dominance within Perikatan, strengthening its core base mobilisation, but potentially limiting broader cross-ethnic appeal,” he said.
Meanwhile, sources claim that Hamzah, together with several MPs who are supporting him, would be making an announcement on their political “new home” as early as next week.
