Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s hold over Perikatan Nasional (PN) is steadily weakening as sustained pressure mounts from within Bersatu and its key ally, PAS, according to his former principal private secretary, Datuk Dr Marzuki Mohamad.
In a strongly worded assessment published on January 30, 2026, Marzuki argued that the former prime minister is facing coordinated political manoeuvres designed to push him out of both Bersatu and the opposition coalition he helped build. He claimed the attacks are coming from multiple fronts, involving figures linked to Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin as well as influential leaders within PAS.
Marzuki described the situation as an unprecedented internal assault, alleging that instead of assisting the party president as required under the constitution, certain leaders within Bersatu have actively worked to undermine Muhyiddin’s authority. At the same time, criticism from PAS leaders has intensified, with public remarks suggesting that Muhyiddin’s leadership era has come to an end.
According to Marzuki, these moves are not isolated incidents but part of a broader strategy to restructure PN’s leadership in a way that benefits PAS while diminishing Muhyiddin’s influence. He maintained that the pressure campaign has been relentless and increasingly overt, reflecting a breakdown of trust among coalition partners.
While acknowledging that Muhyiddin is not without flaws, Marzuki stressed that the timing of the push to remove him is politically driven rather than rooted in principle. He suggested that Hamzah could eventually take over Bersatu’s presidency but would not be positioned to lead the country, warning that the party risks long-term fragmentation if the current infighting continues unchecked.
Marzuki also pointed to a series of high-level engagements as evidence of the political recalibration underway. He claimed that PAS vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar travelled to London to meet Muhyiddin in a bid to secure backing for a PAS-led PN chairmanship. He further noted that PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Hashim Jasin and party president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang had also visited Muhyiddin at his residence, underscoring the intensity of behind-the-scenes negotiations.
He concluded that stepping aside with dignity may ultimately be the most realistic option for Muhyiddin, given that factions pressing for change appear unwilling to recognise or defend his leadership amid the escalating power struggle.
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