He said it was crucial for every Bersatu leader to display their loyalty to Muhyiddin, amid calls for a leadership change within the party.

“What’s important is that every leader must work with and offer their firm and unwavering allegiance to the president. That is important,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the Bersatu general assembly here today.

Bersatu must hold its party elections in 2024 after postponing them earlier this year in view of the six state elections in August.

FMT previously quoted party sources as saying that opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin is expected to be one of the main contenders for the top post in Bersatu if Muhyiddin chooses not to defend the presidency.

Last week, Muhyiddin told FMT he is still considering defending his presidency in the party elections next year.

Acknowledging that Muhyiddin had said he wanted to train Hamzah for the future, Faizal said the Larut MP is not just a future leader for Bersatu.

He pointed out that Hamzah holds key roles as the secretary-general for both Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional. Nonetheless, he believed that there were other party leaders who could go on to lead Bersatu in the future.

“Leaders like Bersatu vice-presidents Ronald Kiandee and Radzi Jidin as well as Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal are all capable of taking over the reins in Bersatu one day,” he said.