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PAS will not agree to any changes to Perikatan Nasional’s organisational structure, including proposals to abolish the post of chairman, as the coalition grapples with leadership uncertainty following the resignation of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said the party’s position is unequivocal and grounded firmly in the PN constitution, following the circulation of leaked correspondence involving Muhyiddin and senior coalition leaders.
The documents, which Takiyuddin confirmed as authentic, outlined a proposal by Muhyiddin to restructure PN by removing the chairman’s role and dividing authority between a Bersatu-led Presidential Council and a PAS-led Executive Council.
“PAS’ position is clear, based on the president’s letter: we want the Perikatan Nasional structure to remain as provided for in the constitution,” Takiyuddin said.
“It cannot be changed. Any change would be unconstitutional and not in accordance with the constitution, which could invite action by the authorities.”
He added that while the PN constitution does allow for the establishment of a Presidential Council, such a body has never been formed. “It has never been established. I rest my case,” he said.
Meanwhile, Takiyuddin expressed disappointment over the leak of what he described as confidential and private correspondence between party presidents, saying the episode spoke for itself.
“Letters that were supposed to be personal from one party president to three other party presidents, and that should have been very confidential and private, have ended up in the public domain,” he said. “So what we call this… documents speak louder than words.”
He confirmed that Muhyiddin had formally resigned as PN chairman with effect from 1 January, as stated in an official letter and media statement issued on 30 December 2025. PN secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali also stepped down.
Takiyuddin said PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang responded to Muhyiddin’s letter on 31 December, expressing appreciation for his contributions and respecting his decision to resign.
Following the resignations, Takiyuddin explained that the PN constitution allows for an extraordinary meeting of the Supreme Council if requested by at least half of the component parties.
He said Gerakan’s president made such a request on 7 January, followed by the PAS president on 10 January, thereby meeting the constitutional threshold.
“When two parties request an extraordinary meeting, that is already sufficient,” he said. “The secretary-general must call the meeting within 14 days.”
With the PN secretary-general post vacant following Mohamed Azmin’s resignation, Takiyuddin said he exercised his authority as deputy secretary-general to issue the notice calling for the extraordinary meeting on 23 January, still within the stipulated timeframe.
He said the meeting’s three main agendas were to appoint a meeting chairperson from among the PN deputy chairmen, to consider and approve the resignation of the PN chairman, and to select a new PN chairman subject to approval of the resignation.
Takiyuddin stressed that only legitimate Supreme Council members registered with the Registrar of Societies were invited to the meeting.
Those attending included the four PN deputy chairmen, namely the presidents of PAS, Gerakan and MIPP, as well as Bersatu’s deputy president, alongside the deputy secretary-general, election director, women’s chief, youth chief and 16 party representatives from PAS, Bersatu, Gerakan and MIPP.
The leadership dispute comes after weeks of internal tensions within PN over the coalition’s top leadership role.
According to the leaked letters, Muhyiddin had indicated that Gerakan and MIPP leaders had been briefed on his restructuring proposal and had expressed support for the plan.
PAS, however, has now drawn a firm line, insisting that PN’s leadership framework must remain unchanged and strictly in accordance with its constitution. - January 29, 2026