KUALA LUMPUR (March 5): Tensions within Malaysia’s opposition alliance, Perikatan Nasional, escalated on Thursday after its newly appointed chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar issued a blunt public rebuke to former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Ahmad Samsuri, the Terengganu Menteri Besar popularly known as "Dr Sam," said on social media that the identity of the coalition’s next prime ministerial candidate should not distract from preparations for the 16th General Election (GE16)

“What is certain is that TSMY is also no longer a candidate for prime minister,” Samsuri said, referring to Muhyiddin by his initials.

The remark is a rare departure for the PAS vice-president, a soft-spoken technocrat who typically avoids public confrontation.

It follows Muhyiddin’s earlier attempt to downplay Samsuri’s elevation to the chairmanship, with the Bersatu president saying the role does not automatically make Samsuri the coalition’s choice for PM.

Speaking at Bersatu headquarters on Tuesday, Muhyiddin claimed the nomination for the top job had yet to be formally discussed with PAS leaders. He maintained that the coalition had historically avoided naming a specific candidate permaturely.

The heated exchange highlights a shifting power dynamic within PN. On Feb 22, the PN supreme council broke with tradition by appointing Samsuri — who is not a party president — as the coalition's chairman. He replaced Muhyiddin, who resigned from the post on Dec 30, 2025.

The elevation of a PAS leader to the helm of PN has led many observers to view Samsuri as the "natural choice" for the premiership, given his administrative track record and PAS' dominance as the largest party in the opposition bloc.

The leadership transition occurs as Bersatu grapples with deep internal fractures. A prolonged power struggle between Muhyiddin and his former deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin resulted in the expulsion of Hamzah and several key figures aligned with him earlier this year.

Despite his ouster from Bersatu, Hamzah remains the Parliament Opposition Leader for now, as the Dewan Rakyat Speaker has yet to receive a formal nomination for a replacement.

Local media reports have suggested that Hamzah and 13 other former Bersatu MPs may soon migrate to a new political vehicle. On Tuesday, Hamzah confirmed he is in active discussions to take over Parti Keluarga Malaysia (PKM), and that it's centred on "technical matters" now.

PKM founder, Khairi Jaya, separately told reporters that Hamzah is "90% confirmed" to take over the party, and that an internal election would be held after Hamzah joined the party to elect him as party president.

PN, which comprises PAS, Bersatu, Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People's Party, currently stands as the primary challenger to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's administration.