He said PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had personally expressed support for him to stay on as PN chairman in a meeting a few months ago, Astro Awani reported.

“As far as I know, when it comes to positions, whether in the party or being nominated as prime minister. I don’t make those decisions myself. It is determined collectively. If they want me to continue, I’ll do so.

“In fact, after I was re-elected as Bersatu president recently, I offered PAS the chance to take over the PN leadership via a rotation system,” he was quoted as saying after officiating Pagoh Bersatu’s annual general meeting today.

It was previously reported that PAS had proposed restructuring PN to give Bersatu deputy president and opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin more authority.

Under the reported plan, an executive committee led by Hamzah would manage the coalition’s day-to-day affairs, while the presidents of PAS, Bersatu, Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party would retain their roles on the PN Supreme Council.

Before such rumours, PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasim said last November that the party should lead PN, given its parliamentary strength and grassroots machinery.

PAS won 43 parliamentary seats in the 15th general election (GE15), the most by any single party, and played a key role in securing PN’s total of 74 seats.

Most of PN’s victories came from Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis and Kedah, where PAS has strong grassroots support.