Azmi Hassan, a fellow at the National Council of Professors, said Samsuri’s resignation might pressure PN to relook its top posts, four days after a meeting confirmed several appointments, including Bersatu’s Azmin Ali as secretary-general.
He said PAS may want to influence the choice of PN’s poster boy for the 16th general election as well – an issue hotly debated by the coalition’s leaders last month.
“PAS needs to step forward and say what it wants in terms of PN’s top posts, because Bersatu seems to be making decisions unilaterally despite PAS having the most seats.
“This is a silent battle and a signal from PAS that it will take drastic action to force Bersatu to negotiate matters, or at least give the secretary-general’s post to PAS.
“However, I believe that PAS should dispense with the silent protest as it is stronger than Bersatu in PN,” Azmi told FMT.
Samsuri was reported on Dec 11 as confirming he had tendered his resignation.
A day earlier, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had responded to Azmin’s appointment, saying the Islamic party respected the authority of PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin to appoint leaders in the coalition.
In addition to Azmin, Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin was named PN deputy chairman. Bersatu vice-president Ahmad Faizal Azumu was given the role of PN information chief and Wanita Bersatu chief Mas Ermieyati Samsudin was named to lead the coalition’s women’s wing.
Two other Bersatu vice-presidents, Ronald Kiandee and Radzi Jidin, were appointed to the coalition’s Supreme Council.
On the PAS front, party president Abdul Hadi Awang is PN deputy chairman while Takiyuddin Hassan is deputy secretary-general and Sanusi Nor the election director.
Syaza Shukri from International Islamic University Malaysia said the PN committee line-up made PAS seem like an aide to Bersatu.
“Bersatu seems more powerful, with Muhyiddin, Hamzah, Azmin and Faizal in important positions.
“Samsuri’s resignation may be in protest of Bersatu’s apparent domination of PN,” she said.