In politics, impatience is often the most fatal flaw - a recurring trait that has sent many promising leaders tumbling down the ladder they tried to climb too quickly.
Malaysia’s political history is littered with such stories. From the rivalry between Anwar Ibrahim and Mahathir Mohamad, to Khairy Jamaluddin’s impatience under Zahid Hamidi, and even Mahathir’s rebellion against Tunku Abdul Rahman - the same pattern repeats: those who rise too fast, fall even faster.
The latest casualty in this pattern appears to be Wan Saiful Wan Jan and Wan Ahmad Fayhsal - reportedly due to their alleged involvement in a “statutory declaration movement” to topple Muhyiddin as Bersatu president - whose expulsions from Bersatu has turned into a public political drama. Once seen as an upcoming politicians, Wan Saiful has now become a cautionary tale - a symbol of ambition outpacing timing. The alleged allegiance to Hamzah Zainudin, in what seems like an attempt to prove loyalty and earn future rewards - perhaps as future deputy prime minister - may have been a miscalculated gamble.
Political observers say Wan Saiful bet on the wrong horse. While Hamzah is seen as ambitious, Azmin Ali remains the “hidden favourite” to succeed Muhyiddin Yassin as Bersatu’s next president. Azmin’s role in orchestrating the Sheraton Move that brought down Pakatan Harapan in 2020 earned him lasting gratitude from Muhyiddin - a political debt that still shapes Bersatu’s inner hierarchy today.
Now, Muhyiddin finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place, as he tries to restore control over a fractured Bersatu. The sacking of Wan Saiful and several division chiefs for alleged attempts to topple him may look decisive, but it also deepens internal wounds. Analyst Awang Azman Pawi notes that the divisions between camps loyal to Muhyiddin and Hamzah are severe, while PAS’s preference for a prime minister under 70 only adds fuel to the fire.
The deeper irony is that Bersatu’s turmoil now mirrors the same chaos PAS once caused in its partnerships with Umno, DAP, and PKR - unpredictable alliances driven by ego and shifting loyalties. As Awang Azman puts it, Bersatu is learning “what it’s like working with PAS - unpredictable and inconsistent.”
In the end, Wan Saiful’s fall echoes a timeless truth: in politics, patience is not weakness but strategy. Mahathir, Anwar, and even Zahid proved that perseverance, not haste, revives careers. Those who can weather humiliation, wait out the storm, and rebuild slowly often return stronger. Those who rush - as Wan Saiful did - become reminders in someone else’s political resurrection.
Bersatu’s internal war is not just about leadership; it is a test of character. And in Malaysian politics, character - not so much on charisma - determines who survives the long game.
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.