Should PAS severe ties with Muhyiddin and Bersatu?
This article first appeared in Bebas News. Muhyiddin Yassin's resignation as PN chairman relieves PAS amid Perlis crisis, but Bersatu leadership cling risks escalating internal PN issues to national-level political instability.
MUHYIDDIN Yassin’s resignation as chairman of Perikatan Nasional (PN) may have come as a breath of fresh air to many within PAS, particularly against the backdrop of the unresolved political imbroglio in Perlis. However, this move, while welcome, remains incomplete. As long as Muhyiddin continues to hold on to the position of president of Bersatu, the crisis will not only persist—it risks being elevated from a party-level problem to a national one.
The situation in Perlis should be read as an early warning. What began as a state-level dispute involving governance and appointments has dragged on without clear resolution, exposing internal fractures within PN itself. In this context, Muhyiddin’s public response has been notably restrained and non-committal. His press statements offered little clarity or direction, reflecting an approach that appears more inclined towards managing discomfort than confronting the root of the problem. Such ambiguity, when sustained, often signals deeper leadership weaknesses.
This is not merely a Perlis issue. It points to structural and leadership deficiencies within Bersatu that remain unaddressed. As long as the same leadership framework remains intact, similar crises are likely to surface elsewhere, drawing PN—and by extension PAS—into repeated cycles of instability that distract from governance and erode public confidence.
PAS must also confront an uncomfortable political reality: Bersatu survives largely on PAS’s political base. Without PAS’s disciplined grassroots machinery, loyal voters, and organisational depth, Bersatu would struggle to remain electorally relevant. This imbalance has effectively turned Bersatu into a liability rather than a strategic partner. A junior partner that repeatedly generates crises cannot expect indefinite political protection from the senior partner that carries the electoral weight.
More critically, Muhyiddin’s continued leadership of Bersatu carries reputational burdens that PAS can ill afford. Public questions surrounding governance during his tenure, coupled with ongoing legal proceedings involving individuals close to him, have created a persistent perception problem. Even when these matters do not directly implicate him personally, the political taint remains. In today’s political climate, perception often carries as much weight as fact, and PAS risks being judged by association rather than by its own record.
There is also the question of succession within Bersatu. Muhyiddin’s apparent desire to manage an internal transition and elevate figures such as Azmin Ali into a more central role is not, and should not be, the concern of PAS members or Bersatu’s wider support base. Leadership transitions must restore confidence, moral authority, and unity. Unfortunately, Azmin’s political journey has been accompanied by controversies that, fairly or otherwise, have shaped public perceptions and limited his ability to command broad-based trust. Stated respectfully, his presence has yet to demonstrate an ability to expand Bersatu’s appeal beyond a narrow political circle.
At a time when Malaysians are craving genuine change in leadership, the persistence of old political baggage undermines that aspiration. The greater danger for PAS is that Bersatu’s unresolved crises will be nationalised, allowing political opponents to exploit them. Anwar Ibrahim has previously demonstrated political skill in leveraging the weaknesses of his rivals, as seen in how UMNO’s internal divisions and Zahid Hamidi’s controversies were elevated into broader national narratives. PAS should not allow a similar script to be written at its expense, particularly when Anwar himself continues to face challenges in consolidating Malay support.
The conclusion is unavoidable. Muhyiddin must now take the responsible step of resigning as chairman of Bersatu. Anything less will only prolong internal decay and extend uncertainty within PN. If such a step is not taken, PAS must seriously consider severing ties with Bersatu altogether. Maintaining a political relationship with a party burdened by unresolved leadership crises and lingering public doubts will inevitably taint PAS’s own image.
Malaysia wants change. PAS must decide whether it will be part of that change, or whether it will remain tethered to an albatross that weighs it down just as the nation searches for a new direction.
Editorial