Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said the party was facing an existential threat, with internal bickering having reached a point of no return.

“I think it’s going to be very difficult for Bersatu to hold together, not only before GE16, but in the next few months. The bickering is going to be very open right now, asking for the current president to step down,” he told FMT.

Azmi said Muhyiddin Yassin should have stepped down when he first announced he would not defend the Bersatu presidency, “but then he turned back 180 degrees”.

“If he had left voluntarily without defending his presidency, Bersatu would be okay,” he added.

Azmi said any hope of stabilising the party now hinges on decisive action.

“Either Muhyiddin stays put and Hamzah’s group is kicked out, or Muhyiddin steps down voluntarily and Hamzah takes over. Something must be done for Bersatu to survive politically before GE16,” he said.

Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia agreed the crisis was worsening, but does not think the party will be defeated at the polls.

“The party will still be able to contest as long as it is still with PAS,” he said.

However, Mazlan cautioned that the party risks collapse if its ties with PAS fracture further, adding there is also the possibility the party will suffer exodus or protests.

“If Perikatan Nasional splits and PAS leaves Bersatu, Bersatu will definitely end,” he said.

Although the crisis is mainly confined to the very top posts in the party and has yet to significantly affect the grassroots, Mazlan said the leadership must accept the present reality and push towards reform.

“This is a bad situation for Muhyiddin. The old leaders need to be prepared to carry out a process of succession to a new leadership as soon as possible,” he said, noting that more senior leaders are now openly calling for Muhyiddin’s resignation following the recent sacking of one MP and the suspension of another.

During Bersatu’s general assembly last month, Muhyiddin revealed that certain quarters were collecting signatures to oust him, prompting some delegates to urge that he step down.

The subsequent turmoil has since led to the sacking of Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan and suspension of Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.

Wan Saiful had accused several figures close to Muhyiddin of straining ties among the party’s top leaders, singling out Bersatu secretary-general Azmin Ali and information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz.

Recently, Bersatu Supreme Council member and Indera Mahkota MP Saifuddin Abdullah also joined calls for Muhyiddin to give up the top post. He was subsequently removed as Pahang PN chief.