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PERIKATAN Nasional is facing a defining moment as analysts caution that prolonged uncertainty over its leadership could undermine the coalition’s long-term survival and electoral prospects, particularly with major state polls and the next general election on the horizon.
The opposition coalition has been without a chairman since Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin stepped down in late December, with his resignation taking effect on Jan 1.
More than a month on, the failure to name a successor has raised concerns about weakened coordination, inconsistent messaging and a lack of strategic focus at a time when Perikatan should be strengthening its position.
Prof Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia said the coalition’s most serious challenge was not pressure from political opponents but the uncertainty at its own helm.
“Perikatan’s biggest threat is leadership uncertainty, not its opponents,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Sivamurugan said Perikatan’s future hinges on the swift appointment of a credible leader, clearer power-sharing arrangements among its component parties and a transition away from protest-oriented politics towards a more coherent governing narrative.
Without such changes, he warned, the coalition risks entering contests such as the Melaka and Johor state elections, as well as the next general election, in a weakened state.
He pointed to Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin and PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man as the most viable candidates to assume the chairmanship.
Other names frequently mentioned, including Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali and Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, were seen as constrained by political realities or organisational structures that could limit their effectiveness.
Universiti Malaya’s Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub echoed the warning, saying the prolonged stalemate risked leaving the coalition directionless.
He highlighted tensions between factions aligned with Muhyiddin and PAS leaders opposed to his return, describing a deadlock that has stalled decision-making.
To ease internal frictions, he suggested temporary measures such as leaving the chairmanship vacant for now or holding a vote among grassroots members of all component parties to curb elite-level infighting.
In contrast, Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan argued that Muhyiddin remains the only figure capable of holding Perikatan together in the short term, reflecting the coalition’s continued reliance on its former leader despite his resignation.
Analysts said the impasse underscores a critical juncture for Perikatan Nasional, warning that further delays in resolving the leadership question could inflict lasting political damage if unity, clarity and direction are not restored soon. - January 26, 2026