PARTI Gerakan Malaysia has adopted an open stance on the selection of the next Perikatan Nasional chairman, but stressed that priority must be given to a leader capable of uniting all component parties and attracting broad-based public support in the next general election.
Gerakan president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau said the coalition, which comprises Bersatu, PAS, the Malaysian Indian People’s Party and Gerakan, reflects Malaysia’s diversity of race, religion and culture.
As such, he said, the eventual chairman must be moderate, inclusive and acceptable to all segments of society.
He added that Gerakan did not believe the post should be determined by which party holds the largest number of parliamentary seats, but rather by a leader’s ability to lead effectively regardless of party affiliation.
“I want to say that whoever leads PN must be a leader who can obtain a mandate of support and can lead all segments of society together — Malays, Chinese, Indians, Orang Asli and people of all religions.
“All these elements must be there. It is not about which party has more Members of Parliament. No. We want to see a leader who can be accepted by all levels of society in our country.
“We must get a leader to head PN who is moderate, inclusive and acceptable to all segments of a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural society,” he said while distributing calendars at the Sungai Ara market on Saturday.
Asked whether Gerakan would accept a PAS leader as Perikatan Nasional chairman, Dominic reiterated that the party remained open, provided the individual met the criteria outlined.
“Any leader who can unite all component parties, lead all segments of a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural society, and secure a mandate for PN’s victory is qualified to lead PN.
“We are more focused on a leader who can lead PN to win the coming general election,” he said.
In a related development, Dominic acknowledged PAS’s strength as the largest party in Malaysia at present, with 43 Members of Parliament, as well as its strong grassroots machinery and disciplined organisational structure.
“During general elections, state elections and by-elections, PAS has very strong machinery.
“Indeed, their leaders go to the ground, look after the people and work closely with the grassroots. This is something we want to learn from and are learning,” he said.
He also conceded that Gerakan had no ambition to lead the coalition and had conveyed its position on leadership criteria to both PAS and Bersatu leaders.
“We are self-aware. We know Gerakan will not lead PN, but we have conveyed our position to PAS and Bersatu, and we will use the most appropriate approach to determine who should lead PN,” he said.
Dominic further noted that the resignation of the Perikatan Nasional chairman would only take effect upon formal acceptance by the coalition’s Supreme Council, as stipulated in its constitution. He added that technical issues, including the vacancy of the PN secretary-general post, would need to be examined from a legal perspective to ensure all procedures complied with the coalition’s constitution.
“We hope this leadership issue can be resolved amicably through discussions among the presidents of the component parties, without dragging on unnecessarily,” he said.
Last month, former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced his resignation as Perikatan Nasional chairman after five years at the helm, effective Jan 1. - January 10, 2026
