KUALA LUMPUR – Amid discussions over who should succeed Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman, Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said the coalition’s constitution does not require the post to be held by the president of any component party.
Speaking to Scoop, the PN deputy secretary-general said the chairman can be any individual agreed upon and appointed by the Supreme Council.
“There is nothing in the PN’s constitution that states the chairman must come from among the presidents of component parties,” he said when contacted.
“The chairman can be anyone agreed upon and appointed by the Supreme Council.”
Takiyuddin added that PAS believes any individual it proposes and nominates would be eligible for the post.
“Whoever is proposed and nominated by PAS is qualified. It does not necessarily have to be the PAS president,” he said.
His remarks came in response to Muhyiddin, who had suggested that the next chairman should be chosen from among the presidents of the coalition’s component parties.
When Perikatan was first formed, all component parties had agreed for Bersatu to lead the coalition and had unanimously supported Muhyiddin’s appointment, Takiyuddin noted.
“Now, if all parties unanimously agree for PAS to lead PN, then PAS will lead,” he said.
Following Muhyiddin’s resignation, PAS has offered to assume the chairmanship and will submit its own candidate.
“The candidate is not the PAS president. Who it will be will be announced by the PAS president,” he added.
Takiyuddin also announced that Perikatan will hold an emergency Supreme Council meeting on Jan 29 at Gerakan’s headquarters in Cheras at 8.30pm.
The meeting will cover three agenda items: appointing a meeting chairman from among the deputy chairmen, approving Muhyiddin’s resignation in accordance with the constitution, and appointing a new PN chairman.
“I invite all Supreme Council members to attend. There are 16 members in total, including myself,” he said, adding that those who had resigned would not be invited.
“When Muhyiddin’s resignation took effect on Jan 1, he became functus officio. Therefore, he should not be invited,” he explained.
Bersatu will be represented at the meeting by its deputy president, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, who is also one of PN’s deputy chairmen.
Separately, Takiyuddin said Perikatan plans to propose amendments to its constitution regarding the scope and jurisdiction of the President’s Council, which will require submission to and approval by the Registrar of Societies (ROS), a process expected to take some time. — January 26, 2026