Parti Pejuang Tanah Air has firmly rejected speculation that it has aligned itself with Perikatan Nasional (PN) or that former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is poised to assume the role of chairman of the opposition coalition. The party described the circulating claims as entirely false and misleading.
Pejuang information chief Rafique Rashid Ali clarified that a fabricated press statement had been widely shared following the announcement that Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin would step down as PN chairman. Rafique stressed that no such decision had been discussed or approved by Pejuang’s leadership, nor had Dr Mahathir been consulted or informed about any alleged appointment within PN.
According to Rafique, Pejuang remains committed to a measured and principled political approach and will not rush into unilateral decisions that could marginalise its strategic partners. He emphasised that the party continues to value cooperation with allies who share similar political objectives and reform aspirations, adding that impulsive manoeuvres would only undermine long-term goals.
He further warned that prolonged political fragmentation would deepen instability, weaken economic confidence and erode public trust in Malaysia’s democratic institutions. From Pejuang’s perspective, national recovery and political maturity require restraint rather than opportunistic realignments driven by short-term developments.
Muhyiddin’s decision to relinquish the PN chairmanship is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026. The move followed a political crisis in Perlis that culminated in Bersatu taking over the menteri besar position from PAS. That episode strained relations between the two PN component parties, particularly after PAS criticised Bersatu for failing to discipline five Perlis assemblymen who withdrew support from the former PAS-led state administration.
The tensions within PN have further highlighted internal fractures within the opposition bloc, making any talk of leadership reshuffles or new alliances especially sensitive. Against this backdrop, Pejuang moved quickly to distance itself from claims that it was preparing to step into the coalition amid leadership uncertainty.
Dr Mahathir founded Pejuang after leaving Bersatu but stepped away from the party in December 2022 following its failure to secure any seats in the 15th general election. Since then, Pejuang has maintained a low-profile but cautious political posture, reiterating that any future alliances will be guided by principle, consultation and long-term national interest rather than speculation or political convenience.
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