Insiders say the rift started in July last year, when party president Muhyiddin Yassin outlined a succession plan that would see Hamzah Zainudin as his deputy and Azmin Ali as secretary-general.
However, that plan has created a split in the party, with Azmin’s camp insisting Muhyiddin should remain at the helm while another wants Hamzah to take over.
“The succession plan is clear, but there are people in Azmin’s camp who believe only Muhyiddin can lead Bersatu into GE16.
“The other camp, which supports Hamzah, is adamant that the transition plan must be honoured. They ask if voters can trust Bersatu to govern (the country) if the party fails to follow through on its own leadership structure,” a party insider told FMT.
FMT has reached out to Azmin for comment.
Tensions within the party initially emerged in December 2023, when speculation arose that Hamzah was on the brink of being sacked due to issues arising within the leadership circle, a source said.
This prompted Bersatu leaders to organise a retreat in Gopeng, Perak, where a consensus was reached among the rival camps.
It was agreed that Muhyiddin would have the final say on all leadership decisions and that he would hand over the reins to Hamzah once the time came.
“This agreement was meant to curb any internal strife and allow the party to focus on strengthening its position ahead of the election,” he said.
He said Azmin accepted the position of secretary-general following the retreat.
Leadership tug-of-war
However, those in Azmin’s camp began pushing for Muhyiddin to remain as party leader through GE16, arguing that his leadership experience was crucial to secure voter confidence.
Meanwhile, Hamzah’s camp continued to insist the transition must proceed as planned, warning that any deviation would create long-term instability within the party.
“The split is clear. Azmin’s camp wants Muhyiddin to stay on, believing that his leadership will keep the party together and prevent internal collapse before the election.
“But the other side is determined to see the transition through. For them, the succession plan is not just about leadership, but about party integrity and credibility heading into GE 16,” he said.