Muhyiddin resigns as PN chairman

BERSATU President, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced his resignation as Chairman of Perikatan Nasional (PN) last night.

The matter was confirmed by Bersatu Secretary-General, Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and the party's Information Chief, Datuk Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz.

They confirmed that Muhyiddin informed about the matter, via the party's Supreme Leadership Council (MPT) WhatsApp group, at 10.30 pm.

However, they did not state the reason for the resignation.

It is believed that the resignation is related to various insistences from PAS leaders against Muhyiddin's leadership in PN following the recent political crisis in Perlis. 

Port Dickson Bersatu chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin also claimed that Muhyiddin has already tendered his resignation as PN chairman.

“It is learnt that Muhyiddin's resignation will take it effect from Jan 1,” said a source familiar with the matter.

“However he will continue as Bersatu president and focus on his Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat initiative.”

While Muhyiddin is expected to remain at the helm of Bersatu, his departure from the PN chairmanship comes against the backdrop of a worsening relationship between Bersatu and PAS, triggered by the collapse of PAS’s control of the Perlis state government.

The crisis began when five Bersatu assemblymen and three PAS assemblymen withdrew their support for then Perlis menteri besar Mohd Shukri Ramli. Shukri later resigned, citing health reasons, paving the way for a change in the state’s leadership.

In response, PAS expelled the three assemblymen involved in the move, resulting in their seats being declared vacant. The party has also urged Bersatu to take disciplinary action against its five assemblymen who were part of the withdrawal of support.

The subsequent appointment of Bersatu’s Abu Bakar Hamzah as the new Perlis menteri besar further inflamed tensions, drawing sharp criticism from PAS leaders. One senior figure went so far as to call for PAS to cut ties with Bersatu altogether.

Since the Perlis fallout, PAS leaders have reportedly floated the possibility of either leaving Perikatan Nasional to explore a new political alignment with Umno or asserting control over the coalition’s leadership structure.

Against this increasingly volatile backdrop, Muhyiddin’s decision to step aside as PN chairman is seen as a pivotal moment that could reshape the future direction and cohesion of the opposition bloc. - December 30, 2025