Hamzah Zainudin: A Leader in Political Limbo

The sudden fall of Hamzah Zainudin from the center of opposition politics into the wilderness is as dramatic as it is telling. Once positioned as the Perikatan Nasional opposition leader, he now finds himself stripped of power, cast away from Bersatu, and left without a coalition platform. The MPs who pledged loyalty to him are trapped in limbo, unable to follow him into a new party without risking their seats under Malaysia’s anti-hopping law.

The prospects of Hamzah forming a new party are bleak. Even if a handful of MPs were willing to join him, the legal and political risks are prohibitive. Unless a rebellion erupts within PAS, forcing out Muhyiddin Yassin, Hamzah’s chances of reclaiming relevance remain slim. Yet PAS under Hadi Awang shows no appetite for internal revolt, and the pro-Hamzah wing lacks the leverage to drive change.

Hamzah Zainudin in Political Limbo

Another scenario would be Bersatu itself breaking away from PN to seek new alliances. But which coalition would embrace them? A deal with Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Harapan seems implausible. Both blocs still view Muhyiddin as the betrayer who engineered their respective downfalls in 2018 and 2020. The wounds of those years remain fresh, and the trust deficit is insurmountable.

That leaves Bersatu with little choice but to remain tethered to PN, even if the coalition’s internal dynamics are increasingly fraught. For Hamzah, the political tunnel grows darker. His 16 loyal MPs cannot move, his leadership ambitions are blocked, and his influence within PN has evaporated.

The conclusion is stark: Hamzah Zainudin is a leader without a platform, a commander without troops free to march. Unless the improbable occurs—a PAS revolt or a dramatic Bersatu realignment—his political career risks fading into irrelevance. For now, he and his supporters are consigned to the margins, waiting for a break that may never come.