As Sabah heads into its crucial state election, a political storm is brewing within Bersatu - one that could decide not only the future of its leaders, but also the fate of Perikatan Nasional (PN) as Malaysia’s main opposition bloc.
At the centre of this turbulence is Dato' Seri Hamzah Zainuddin, the opposition leader whose position, influence, and political longevity are now being openly questioned. The question on everyone’s mind: Will Hamzah face his Waterloo once the Sabah election dust settles?
Rumours have intensified following revelations of an internal push to replace Hamzah with Bersatu vice-president Datuk Dr. Radzi Jidin as the new opposition leader. The leaked document proposing Hamzah’s suspension and Radzi’s elevation triggered political shockwaves, especially as it emerged on the same night 19 Bersatu MPs - including president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin - held a high-profile meeting at Muhyiddin’s residence. Although Muhyiddin insisted that the meeting affirmed loyalty to his leadership, the optics said otherwise: Radzi was prominently featured leading a chant to support Muhyiddin, standing side-by-side with Hamzah.
Analysts warn that replacing Hamzah now would be political suicide for PN. According to Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri, Hamzah is the coalition’s bridge between Bersatu’s technocratic circle and PAS’s Islamic core - a rare combination in an opposition that survives on a fragile alliance. Removing him risks dismantling the very balance that keeps PN coherent.
Compounding this is the timing. Sabah votes this month, with Melaka and Johor elections not far behind. Internal infighting at this juncture, analysts say, is akin to “leaving a ticking time bomb in the party”. Any move to reshuffle leadership before these crucial elections could fracture support, demoralise party workers, and hand political ammunition to their rivals.
But beneath the caution lies a growing reality: Muhyiddin Yassin is consolidating his power. Political observers note that Muhyiddin appears to be strengthening his loyalist faction at the expense of Hamzah’s. The leadership tussle - intensified by recent sackings and suspensions of MPs aligned with Hamzah - suggests that the former prime minister is reasserting himself, preparing for a future where Radzi serves as a temporary bridge before eventually transitioning leadership to Dato' Sri Azmin Ali.
Akademi Nusantara’s Azmi Hassan predicts that Bersatu’s leaders will not oust Hamzah outright - at least not yet. Instead, they may “target” his supporters first. Ex-supreme council member Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan has been sacked, and youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal has been suspended - among others recently purged from the party - slowly weakening Hamzah’s base while using the Sabah election as a temporary ceasefire. But this is only delaying the inevitable. “Eventually, this leadership issue will still blow up,” Azmi warns, adding that the explosion could erupt even before Sabah’s polling day.
Meanwhile, political scientist Syaza Shukri points out that the opposition leader must be someone seen as a credible alternative prime minister. “Is Radzi the man for PN?” she asks bluntly. For many, the answer is unclear.
The stakes are high. If Hamzah is replaced prematurely - especially by someone perceived as less experienced or nationally recognisable - PN risks plunging into disarray. But if Muhyiddin waits too long, the internal rift may deepen beyond repair.
As Sabah approaches its election climax, Bersatu stands at a crossroads: consolidate, fracture, or implode. And for Hamzah Zainuddin, the biggest question remains - will this be the battle that finally ends his political journey, or will he survive the party’s most defining power struggle yet?
By: Kpost
Information Source:
Kpost (ckhorsk@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact creator@newswav.com.
