Muhyiddin said Perikatan Nasional was taking too long to name Hamzah’s successor, insisting the matter needed to be resolved swiftly.

The former prime minister said PN could not afford to leave it until just before the Dewan Rakyat convenes in June to name a new opposition leader as it could tarnish its image in the people’s eyes.

He added that he had written to the PN Supreme Council urging for the matter to be expedited but no action was forthcoming, Sinar Harian reported.

“I led PN for nearly five years after its formation. I know that this matter isn’t hard to resolve. Once there’s a decision, it should be executed immediately.

“PN secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan can write to the Dewan Rakyat speaker to inform him of a vacancy in the opposition leader’s post as well as the candidate chosen.

“I ask the PN Supreme Council, especially the newly appointed secretary-general and chairman, to resolve this issue as soon as possible,” said Muhyiddin.

The Bersatu president added that Hamzah should no longer be using the title of opposition leader.

Earlier this week, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said the new opposition leader had yet to be finalised and there was no rush as the Dewan Rakyat would only reconvene in June.

He said the matter still needed to be discussed with PN components, but PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man later said the Islamic party has already identified its candidate.