KUALA LUMPUR: PAS vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar is the new Perikatan Nasional chairman.
The Terengganu Mentri Besar will succeed Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who will now be his deputy.
Perikatan acting secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan announced this after an extraordinary supreme council meeting at the PAS headquarters here yesterday.
The meeting also decided to activate a Presidents’ Council, with amendments to the Perikatan constitution.
Takiyuddin, who is the PAS secretary-general, said Ahmad Samsuri was not in the meeting chaired by Muhyiddin yesterday, as he had resigned as treasurer in 2024.
He said the meeting was held in full harmony and attended by all members of the Perikatan supreme council, including the four component party presidents.
“The main agenda of the meeting was to approve Muhyiddin’s resignation as Perikatan chairman effective Jan 1 and to appoint a new chairman.
“Other matters will be raised for discussion and decision at the next supreme council meeting, which will be scheduled soon,” he informed reporters.
Besides Muhyiddin, the other three party presidents present were Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang of PAS, Datuk Dr Dominic Lau of Gerakan and P. Punithan of MIPP.
Takiyuddin said Ahmad Samsuri was the sole nominee for the chairman’s post.
“It was a unanimous decision. Under the Perikatan constitution, it is not stated as to who can be appointed chairman. This means the supreme council can choose anyone from Perikatan.
“To become chairman of Perikatan, one does not necessarily have to be a party president or deputy president; our constitution provides for whoever it is.
“Based on that, PAS is of the view that Ahmad Samsuri is suitable due to his strengths and advantages. He has served as Mentri Besar for two terms in Terengganu.
“He also performed very well in the last general election and in the state election in Terengganu, with Perikatan winning all seats,” he added.
Takiyuddin described the meeting as a sign of cordial relations between PAS and Bersatu, particularly in light of the controversy that resulted in the resignation of PAS’ Mentri Besar in Perlis last December.
“We must prepare for the elections and show unity. Politics requires patience; sometimes we must respond immediately and sometimes remain calm. There is no need to create further issues. Let Perikatan move forward positively,” said Takiyuddin.
Lau confirmed that the decision by the Perikatan supreme council was unanimous.
“Our priority is winning the (general) election,” he declared.
On the issue of the Opposition Leader, Takiyuddin said as PAS holds the most number of seats in the Dewan Rakyat’s Opposition bloc, the post should technically be held by a PAS MP.
However, he said the matter needs careful consideration following the sacking of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin as Bersatu deputy president on Feb 12.
Takiyuddin, who is the Perikatan Chief Whip, said there is no urgent need to remove Hamzah despite the Larut MP’s axing from Bersatu.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Samsuri, 56, said he aims to create a political consensus for Malaysians across diverse religions, races, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds.
In a statement issued after his appointment, he said he was also determined to consolidate Perikatan.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the trust and mandate entrusted to me as the new chairman of Perikatan, as resolved by all the presidents of the Perikatan component parties and members of the supreme council.
“I extend my highest appreciation to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for his dedicated service as Perikatan chairman since its inception, alongside the entire leadership of the supreme council, for building Perikatan into an excellent foundation of political consensus.
“This has enabled us to secure a significant number of seats in the 15th General Election. This new responsibility is immense, heavy and challenging, particularly given the high expectations from various parties and the public,” he said.
The 56-year-old Ru Rendang assemblyman, who has been Terengganu Mentri Besar since 2018, has a PhD in Aeroengine Ignition and Combustion (High Altitude Engine Failure) from the University of Leeds in 2001, after completing an MSc in Combustion and Energy there in 1996. He obtained his Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical and Materials Engineering from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 1993.
Before entering politics, Ahmad Samsuri had a distinguished aerospace engineering career, serving in academia and various national and international positions within the aerospace industry.
He subsequently served as an advisor to the Higher Education Ministry’s Strategic Aerospace Committee and took on the role of chair for the National Aerospace Programme Deans Council.
