Malaysia

Will the speculation of PN’s new Chairman end on Thursday?

PN will convene a special Supreme Council meeting to formally confirm Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation and appoint a new chairman, a move seen as pivotal amid rising speculation and growing strains within the opposition coalition

Updated 8 months ago · Published on 26 Jan 2026 8:30AM

Will the speculation of PN’s new Chairman end on Thursday?
PN sets leadership decision in motion as Supreme Council meets to fill chairman post on Thursday - January 26, 2026

PERIKATAN Nasional has scheduled an Extraordinary Meeting of its Supreme Council on Thursday, with the appointment of a new chairman taking centre stage following the departure of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin from the post.

The agenda was outlined in a notice dated Jan 23 and issued by PN deputy secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, confirming that the leadership transition would be formally addressed at the meeting.

“With reference to the above matter and the related letters from GERAKAN president and PN deputy chairman Datuk Dr Dominic Lau Hoe Chai, as well as PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, dated Jan 7 and Jan 10 respectively.

“Based on the provisions of Clause 12.2 of the PN constitution, an Extraordinary Meeting of the Supreme Council may be convened upon a written request to the secretary-general by at least half of the component parties.

“The secretary-general must then call the meeting within 14 days from the date of receipt of the request,” he said.

According to the notice, the council will first select a chairperson for the meeting from among PN’s deputy chairmen, in line with Clause 8.3(II)(b) of the coalition’s constitution, before proceeding to the substantive leadership matters.

The meeting, scheduled to begin at 8.30pm at Gerakan’s headquarters here, will formally confirm Muhyiddin’s resignation as PN chairman and move to appoint a successor in accordance with Clause 8.3(I)(b) of the party constitution.

Muhyiddin, who is also Bersatu president and Pagoh MP, announced earlier that he would step down from the chairmanship with effect from Jan 1, ending a five-year tenure that began when Perikatan Nasional was officially registered on Aug 7, 2020.

PN’s main component parties include Bersatu, PAS and Gerakan, with the leadership transition occurring against a backdrop of increasing speculation over who will take the helm.

Among the names widely mentioned are PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.

The issue has also revived calls from within PAS, including from its Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden, for the PN chairmanship to be held by the Islamist party.

At the same time, strains between PAS and Bersatu have become more visible following political turmoil in Perlis, where Sanglang assemblyman Mohd Shukri Ramli resigned as Chief Minister after leaving PAS, underscoring internal frictions within the coalition as it approaches a critical leadership decision. - January 26, 2026

Spotlight

Malaysia

Haze: Schools in Johor, Melaka, and Negeri Sembilan to close tomorrow

Malaysia

Tun Mahathir’s health improves, but not ready to leave hospital

Malaysia

LPT3 row puts Kelantan’s infrastructure priorities under scrutiny

Malaysia

Terengganu royal family member sues two banks over RM1.99m missing from savings

Malaysia

Irene Sofiya murder probe referred to Johor prosecutors for review

Malaysia

Teacher denies negligence charges over fatal school SUV crash in Kota Bharu

Malaysia

Sulaiman Md Ali opts out of Melaka polls, will not defend Lendu

You may be interested

Malaysia

Sultan Nazrin: Delay in environmental action places future generations at risk

Malaysia

Twenty-one stations record unhealthy air as Zahid expects wind shift to ease haze

Malaysia

Negeri Ruler, Tuanku Muhriz, invited to Conference of Rulers meeting tomorrow

Malaysia

Teacher to be charged over fatal crash that killed Form One student

Malaysia

Working towards better transparency of government agencies

Malaysia

KTMB heritage sites set for tourism makeover, says Loke

Malaysia

LPT3 row puts Kelantan’s infrastructure priorities under scrutiny

Malaysia

No witnesses, CCTV or overnight patrols at hostel where Zara Qairina was found unconscious