PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) faces the risk of sustained internal instability unless it undertakes immediate and comprehensive reforms to its leadership structure and decision-making processes, political analyst Mujibu Abd Muis has cautioned.
Mujibu said the difficulties confronting the opposition coalition were rooted not in ideological differences, but in its failure to institutionalise a clear leadership hierarchy and a decision-making framework that is accepted by all component parties.
According to him, the most urgent corrective measure is for PN leaders to end the practice of airing disagreements in public and to redirect all negotiations and disputes into formal internal mechanisms that carry recognised authority.
“For me, the PN leadership must immediately streamline its decision-making structure, including setting out formal procedures related to appointments and the role of the coalition chairman.
“As long as the issue of top leadership is not resolved conclusively and agreed upon collectively, power struggles will continue to recur and weaken the coalition from within,” he told Sinar Ahad.
Mujibu said the absence of a final and commonly endorsed settlement on PN’s top leadership had created conditions for recurring friction, particularly between key components such as Bersatu and Pas, undermining the coalition’s ability to present a united front.
He added that structural reform alone would be insufficient unless accompanied by stricter discipline in political communication among PN leaders and members.
“Open disputes not only damage inter-party relations, but also reflect failures in coalition governance,” he said.
“In coalition politics, the ability to manage differences in a closed, institutional and principled manner is a basic prerequisite for the survival and stability of any political alliance,” he added. - February 1, 2026
