KUALA LUMPUR — PAS is strengthening its position within Perikatan Nasional (PN) with the appointment of Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar as the coalition’s chairman and prime ministerial face, analysts say.
Senior political analyst Lau Zhe Wei of the International Islamic University of Malaysia said the move shows PAS is no longer strictly bound by seniority when choosing leaders.
“PAS is breaking the hierarchy. Seniority is no longer absolute,” he said, adding that Ahmad Samsuri’s rise was largely expected after Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin stepped aside and PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang declined the role.
Lau said the decision benefits PAS more than PN as a whole. In the past, Bersatu often highlighted its leaders as experienced administrators and former prime ministers. By putting forward Ahmad Samsuri, PAS is signalling that it believes it can lead at the national level without relying on Bersatu’s track record.
“This shows PAS does not want to depend on Bersatu’s experience anymore,” he said, suggesting the party may eventually reshape its identity rather than be tied to Bersatu’s internal instability.
He confirmed that Ahmad Samsuri is effectively PN’s “poster boy” and prime minister candidate, but questioned whether PAS grassroots members will fully accept him in the long term, noting that his rise is closely linked to Abdul Hadi’s backing.
Lau also said the appointment is aimed at appealing to middle-ground voters by presenting a more professional and academic image. However, he added that non-Malay voters typically judge parties based on ideology rather than individual leaders, meaning broader policy changes would still be needed to shift perceptions.
‘Strategic and symbolic’ appointment
Meanwhile, Datuk Prof Awang Azman Awang Pawi of Universiti Malaya said the appointment was strategic and symbolic, offering PN a “clean” and professional figure at a time when Bersatu is facing internal strains.
He noted that the decision did not face open resistance from other component parties such as Bersatu, MIPP and Gerakan, suggesting negotiations took place behind the scenes. PAS, he said, likely backed Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin’s continuation as Opposition Leader as part of a compromise to secure the PN chairmanship.
Awang Azman said the move helps PN prepare for the 16th General Election by calming tensions within Bersatu and among coalition partners. He expects PN to shift its message towards stable governance and economic management, while highlighting PAS’s administration of Terengganu as an example of professional leadership.
Azmi Hassan of the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research meanwhile, said Ahmad Samsuri’s image as a professional rather than an extremist could make it easier for PN to approach non-Malay voters.
However, Azmi disagreed that the appointment automatically makes him the coalition’s prime minister-in-waiting.
“He is not PM material yet,” Azmi said, arguing that Muhyiddin still has a stronger claim to the role based on experience.
For now, analysts agree on one thing: the appointment marks a clear shift in power dynamics within PN, with PAS moving more confidently into the driver’s seat as GE16 approaches. — February 23, 2026