Image : Credit Muhyiddin Yassin Facebook
By: Mike Paul
Kuala Lumpur, Dec 30 — Former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced on Tuesday that he will resign as chairman of the opposition bloc Perikatan Nasional (PN), effective Jan 1, 2026, ending his five-year tenure at the helm of the coalition.
In a Facebook statement, Muhyiddin, 78, thanked PN leaders “who have given me their full support during my time leading PN since its establishment five years ago.” He added, “I wish the PN leadership and the component parties all the best.”
The resignation comes in the wake of a political upheaval in Perlis, where PAS Chief Minister Mohd Shukri Ramli stepped down after eight assemblymen — three from PAS and five from Bersatu — withdrew their support. Bersatu’s Abu Bakar Hamzah was sworn in as the new Chief Minister, while PAS expelled the three defectors.
The Perlis crisis exposed deep fissures within PN, a coalition comprising PAS and Bersatu. Analysts note that Muhyiddin’s departure reflects mounting pressure from within Bersatu, where calls have grown for him to step aside as party president in favor of deputy president Hamzah Zainuddin, 68.
Muhyiddin, who served as Malaysia’s Prime Minister from March 2020 to August 2021, has been a central figure in PN’s rise as a formidable opposition bloc. His exit as chairman signals a potential realignment of PN’s leadership and strategy heading into 2026.
Political observers say the move could strengthen Bersatu’s internal cohesion while reshaping PN’s relationship with PAS, especially after the Perlis fallout. The resignation also underscores the fluidity of Malaysia’s opposition politics under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration.
As PN prepares for a new chapter, Muhyiddin’s legacy remains tied to his role in steering the coalition through Malaysia’s volatile political landscape.
- TNS News