KUALA LUMPUR – Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has declined the nomination to become the new chairman of Perikatan Nasional (PN), despite being suggested as a potential successor to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who resigned from the position last Thursday.
Instead, Sanusi has proposed Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, as a more suitable candidate to lead the coalition, Sinar Harian reported.
“I recommend a more qualified candidate, Dr Ahmad Samsuri, the Menteri Besar of Terengganu. He is better than the previous chairman. There is no need to compare me,” he said in an interview with Sinar Harian on Friday.
Muhyiddin, who is also the president of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), announced his resignation as PN chairman on Thursday, following a political crisis in Perlis. In the wake of his resignation, PAS has called for the leadership of PN to be handed over to the party.
PAS’s Ulama Council chief, Datuk Ahmad Yahaya, had expressed his support for Sanusi’s candidacy as the new PN chairman.
Sanusi explained that Samsuri’s strength in formulating political strategies makes him the best choice for the role.
“I am a general in the field, managing the soldiers. My work is on the ground. He, on the other hand, manages strategies and the roadmap,” he said.
Earlier, PAS President Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said that PAS would assume leadership of PN following Muhyiddin’s resignation. He confirmed that a special meeting will be held next week to select the new chairman.
“PAS has many suitable candidates, including both politicians and technocrats. What is certain is that the new chairman will be chosen from among PAS leaders,” he told reporters after attending a lecture at Masjid Rusila.
When asked about the possibility of him taking on the role, as suggested by some, Hadi simply stated that he was in poor health.
“Yes, I am, as people say, in poor health. We will discuss this within the party. And there are others,” he replied.
Hadi also clarified that PAS had already decided to involve PN members in the leadership process. “We will take leadership from PN members. We will discuss this in the meeting,” he added.
The vacancy for the PN chairman position arose after Muhyiddin’s resignation, effective January 1, 2026, following over five years at the helm of the coalition. Muhyiddin’s departure was accompanied by the resignation of several other Bersatu leaders, including Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali as PN Secretary-General, and the exits of Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu (PN Perak Chairman) and Mohamad Hanifah Abu Baker (PN Negeri Sembilan Chairman). – January 2, 2026