Muhyiddin Yassin Faces Political Crisis as Calls for Resignation Mount

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is grappling with a significant political crisis as dissent grows within his party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu). At 78 years old, he is facing increasing pressure from former allies to resign as party president in favor of his deputy, Hamzah Zainuddin, who is 68. This turmoil comes just weeks after Bersatu named him the party’s candidate for Prime Minister ahead of the next general election, scheduled to be called by February 2028.

Political analysts indicate that dissatisfaction with Muhyiddin’s leadership has surged, prompting calls for a younger candidate to lead the opposition alliance. Dissent has intensified since a recent party congress on September 6, where Muhyiddin faced open resistance. The situation escalated with the party’s disciplinary board expelling Wan Saiful Wan Jan, an MP from Penang, and suspending Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, an MP from Kelantan. These actions are believed to be linked to an alleged plot to undermine Muhyiddin, although Wan Saiful has denied any such intention.

Internal Turmoil and Legal Challenges

The crisis within Bersatu is compounded by Muhyiddin’s legal troubles. On November 10, a Malaysian High Court announced that his corruption trial would commence in early March 2024. He faces serious charges of abuse of power and soliciting bribes amounting to RM232.5 million during his brief tenure as Prime Minister that lasted from March 2020 to August 2021. Additionally, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is pursuing his son-in-law, Muhammad Adlan Berhan, who is wanted for alleged criminal breach of trust.

Analysts note that Muhyiddin’s attempts to consolidate power through purging dissenters may further alienate him from the party’s younger members, who are eager for a generational change. A Kadir Jasin, a veteran journalist, remarked that the ongoing internal strife signals desperation and could leave Muhyiddin politically isolated.

The internal discord is evident, with reports indicating that 16 of Bersatu’s 25 elected MPs have expressed opposition to the disciplinary board’s decisions. Saifuddin Abdullah, one of the dissenting MPs, has urged Muhyiddin to facilitate a peaceful transition of power, highlighting the factionalism pervasive within the party.

Bersatu’s Historical Context and Future Prospects

Bersatu emerged as a splinter party from the long-established United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), gaining prominence during the 2018 general election when it played a crucial role in defeating the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional coalition. The party’s formation was a response to the widespread corruption linked to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal. Despite its initial success, Bersatu has struggled to maintain a strong foothold in the Malay community, which remains divided between UMNO and PAS.

In the 2022 general election, Bersatu secured only 25 parliamentary seats, largely benefiting from its alliance with PAS, which holds 43 seats in the 222-member lower house. Since then, the party has faced a series of electoral setbacks, failing to win any by-elections, including a notable defeat in September 2024 in the Mahkota state assembly seat in Johor.

Ibrahim Suffian, head of opinion pollster Merdeka Centre, describes the challenges facing Bersatu as severe, stating, “The Bersatu brand isn’t very strong. It failed to win control of any state government in the last election to establish a base.” He suggests that Muhyiddin’s prospects of retaining the party presidency are diminishing, as many members believe he seeks to hold onto power as a safeguard against his legal issues.

As the situation unfolds, the coming weeks will be critical for Muhyiddin and Bersatu. If internal divisions are not resolved, the party, already struggling, may face irreversible damage. Kadir warns that failure to mend the rifts could lead to a permanent crisis for Bersatu, jeopardizing its future in Malaysian politics.