Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said PAS recognises the importance of sealing a mutual understanding with Bersatu on the matter, as both parties are integral to the coalition.
“However, PAS believes it has the upper hand, especially as they see PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin as a weak leader due to his ongoing court cases,” he told FMT.
PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man previously told Malaysiakini that PN will be looking to restructure its leadership, having formed a committee to review and enhance its organisational framework.
He said the coalition was looking towards a comprehensive overhaul of its structure.
Muhyiddin, 77, has been charged in court with abusing his power as prime minister in connection with the Jana Wibawa programme by seeking to obtain RM232 million for Bersatu in 2021.
The Bersatu president also faces three counts of receiving money totalling RM200 million from illegal activities, which was deposited into the party’s bank account.
A Bersatu source told FMT there have been internal discussions aimed at giving PN’s deputy chairman Hamzah Zainudin a more active role on the revamped committee if Muhyiddin’s leadership is called into question. Hamzah is Bersatu’s deputy president.
The source said PAS had submitted its proposal to restructure the coalition’s leadership in February, but no decisions have been reached.
“The PN committee that Tuan Ibrahim spoke about is meant to handle the coalition’s day-to-day affairs, but Bersatu is yet to act on PAS’s suggestions,” he said, adding that the committee is also considering giving Muhyiddin an advisory role.
“Nothing is finalised but there is a push to set up a team to prepare PN for GE16,” the source added.
Key positions
Another analyst, Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara, said the fact that PN’s top two positions are held by Bersatu leaders—Muhyiddin and Azmin Ali, the coalition’s secretary-general—has created a perception that it is dominated by Bersatu.
“PAS may feel it should hold more significant posts, such as the position of secretary-general,” Azmi told FMT.
He said PAS is likely to push for a more prominent role in the coalition ahead of GE16 given that the party won more seats than Bersatu at GE15 in November 2022.
“PAS also believes it has capable leaders at the state level and wants this reflected in PN’s leadership structure,” he said.
PAS won 43 parliamentary seats in GE15, making it the largest single party in the Dewan Rakyat.
Contesting under the PN banner, its strong performance contributed significantly to PN’s overall total of 74 seats.
Most of PAS’s victories came in the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis and Kedah, where the party has strong grassroots support.