muhyiddin hamzah — Bersatu is unlikely to close ranks even if Hamzah Zainudin (left) takes over the party leadership from Muhyiddin Yassin, although ties with PAS will improve, say analysts.

PETALING JAYA:

While ties between Bersatu and PAS may improve if Hamzah Zainudin takes over from Muhyiddin Yassin as Perikatan Nasional chairman, internal divisions within the party are likely to remain, says an analyst.

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said the schisms within Bersatu appear “too deep to mend”.

He said the internal bickering has in fact escalated following the sacking of Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan from the party and the suspension of Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.

“The knives are out because they are both in Hamzah’s camp. Whether Hamzah or Muhyiddin leads Bersatu makes no difference,” he told FMT.

Azmi was asked to comment on Wan Fayhsal’s call for Hamzah to helm Bersatu and PN ahead of the Sabah state election to ensure greater stability.

He said Hamzah, as party president, would provide Bersatu with “clearer direction”.

That in turn would augur well for PN because PAS prefers to work with Hamzah, who is seen as more accommodative, Azmi added.

“Hamzah is much easier to talk to, while Muhyiddin is steadfast in his particular direction,” he said.

However, Azmi said a leadership change was unlikely to occur before the Sabah state election on Nov 29.

Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said Hamzah is enjoying growing support among Bersatu’s grassroots, having secured the backing of 120 of the party’s 197 divisions in the lead-up to the party’s general assembly.

He said the “younger, more energetic and dynamic” Hamzah could unite Bersatu, while PAS’s well-oiled machinery would help him consolidate PN’s campaign network.

“PN’s strength hinges on PAS, as the Islamic party has strong machinery and grassroots support. With PAS’s backing, Hamzah (as PN chief) will have no problem mobilising the opposition coalition’s machinery,” he said.

However, Mazlan expects Hamzah to face significant resistance from within, noting that the action taken against Wan Saiful and Wan Fayhsal showed the perils of pushing for a leadership transition.

“Muhyiddin’s influence is still intact and his supporters still control the party,” he said.

James Chin of the University of Tasmania agreed that Hamzah would stabilise PN if he were to take charge of the coalition, noting that PAS appears to prefer him to Muhyiddin.

The “real power” in PN, he said, lay with PAS. “The reality is PN’s election engine is run by PAS. Without PAS, it would be difficult.”

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Split in Bersatu will remain even with Hamzah as chief, says analyst

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara says the schisms are 'too deep to mend'.