Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin formally stepped down as chairman of Perikatan Nasional (PN), a move that took effect on 1 January and which senior Bersatu veteran Redzuan Yusof described as a calculated effort to contain a regional spat from becoming a national crisis.
Muhyiddin resigns as PN chairman and the immediate consequences
Redzuan, who co-founded Bersatu, told FMT that the resignation was an unexpected but deliberate measure that surprised both allies and critics. He rejected suggestions Muhyiddin’s decision was driven by last month’s political turmoil in Perlis, saying the former prime minister had long been operating according to a wider plan.
“By stepping down as PN chairman, Muhyiddin has prevented the Perlis episode from becoming a national issue. At the same time, he has neutralised attempts by rebels to remove him as Bersatu president. And he did it with a single signature,” said Redzuan, who formerly served as minister for entrepreneur development and minister in the prime minister’s department.
Observers note the timing is significant. The resignation hands the day-to-day leadership of PN to PAS, the Islamist partner in the coalition, and removes a stabilising figure who had been seen as the moderate bridge to non-Malay voters.
Redzuan warned that without a named successor to lead PN, the task of bringing non-Malay support back to the coalition now rests largely on PAS. “If it fails, PAS and PN will remain in opposition for another term,” he said, underscoring the electoral risk ahead of the general election.
The concern is echoed by P Ramasamy of the Democratic Action Party-aligned think tank Urimai, who argued that the absence of public-facing moderates such as Muhyiddin and Azmin Ali, who also vacated his role as PN secretary-general, will make it harder for the coalition to maintain ties with non-Malay constituents. Ramasamy said non-Malay voters were more comfortable with pragmatic leaders rather than overtly conservative positions.
Redzuan added that the Perlis dispute exposed internal divisions within PN that now require resolution by PAS without Muhyiddin’s tempering presence. The veteran politician said Muhyiddin’s step back allows him to concentrate on strengthening Bersatu internally, a priority he affirmed in a New Year message to party members.
In his New Year address, Muhyiddin defended his decision to withdraw from the PN chairmanship while confirming he remains president of Bersatu. He pledged to rally party members, to tighten party unity and to sustain Bersatu’s role within the coalition.
For now, the move has calmed an immediate flare-up in Perlis but has intensified speculation over PN’s wider electoral strategy. With the coalition’s leadership recalibrated, attention will turn to whether PAS can broaden the appeal of PN to regain support among non-Malay communities or whether the alliance will be confined to a narrower voter base.
Key Takeaways:
- Muhyiddin resigns as PN chairman effective 1 January to prevent the Perlis crisis becoming a national issue.
- Veteran Bersatu leader Redzuan Yusof calls the decision a calculated move to stabilise the party and neutralise internal challengers.
- The resignation shifts responsibility for coalition leadership to PAS and raises questions about PN’s appeal to non-Malay voters.
- Former leaders including Azmin Ali have also stepped back, leaving Bersatu focused on internal consolidation ahead of GE16.
