<figure id="attachment_3202987" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3202987" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3202987 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ba83b788-hamzah-zainudin-fmt-resize-061125-1.webp" alt="hamzah zainudin" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3202987" class="wp-caption-text">Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin is also Bersatu deputy president.</figcaption></figure>
PETALING JAYA: An analyst warns that any attempt to remove Hamzah Zainudin as opposition leader would spell doom for Perikatan Nasional (PN) as the Bersatu deputy president is one of the coalition&#8217;s most important assets.
Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri of Global Asia Consulting said Hamzah had the unique ability of bridging the more technocratic Bersatu with the Islamic PAS in PN.
He said the Bersatu top leadership also seemed aware that appointing a new opposition leader would spark greater infighting at a time when several state elections are set to be held, namely in Sabah this month and then Melaka and Johor in the coming years.
“Opening up a debate on the opposition leader’s post with these state elections approaching would leave a ticking time bomb in the party,” he told FMT.
<figure id="attachment_3214342" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3214342" style="width: 200px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3214342" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/187a157f-zaharuddin-sani-ahmad-sabri-ms-201125.webp" alt="Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri" width="200" height="200" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3214342" class="wp-caption-text">Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri.</figcaption></figure>
This follows a viral letter calling for Hamzah’s removal as Bersatu deputy president and leader of the opposition in the Dewan Rakyat, claiming he was behind moves that undermined the party leadership.
The letter, which was drafted to be signed off by a Bersatu elected representative or leader, proposed that Bersatu vice-president and Putrajaya MP Radzi Jidin take over the role of opposition leader.
The document was circulated online just as 19 Bersatu MPs, including Muhyiddin, convened at the former prime minister’s home for a high-profile meeting on Tuesday night.
Muhyiddin later said that all 18 MPs stated their backing for him as Bersatu president, while Sabak Bernam MP Kalam Salan said there were no discussions about replacing the opposition leader at the meeting.
Nonetheless, speculation continued to swirl as Muhyiddin had posted a video of Radzi leading the MPs, including Hamzah, in a short chant stating their support for the Bersatu president.
<figure id="attachment_3157090" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3157090" style="width: 200px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3157090" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/3db50181-syaza-shukri-ms-120925-1.webp" alt="Syaza Shukri" width="200" height="200" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3157090" class="wp-caption-text">Syaza Shukri.</figcaption></figure>
Syaza Shukri of International Islamic University Malaysia said the opposition leader was supposed to be a figure who was prominent and capable enough to be an alternative prime minister, pointing out that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had held the post for several years.
“Radzi replacing Hamzah as opposition leader doesn’t look right. The opposition leader is meant to be like an alternative prime minister. Is Radzi the man for PN?” she asked.
Akademi Nusantara’s Azmi Hassan did not foresee the Bersatu leadership taking such direct action on Hamzah for now, saying they would likely “target” his supporters first.
<figure id="attachment_2789232" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2789232" style="width: 200px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-2789232" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ab1fb881-azmi-hassan-ms-140723-2.webp" alt="Azmi Hassan" width="200" height="200" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2789232" class="wp-caption-text">Azmi Hassan.</figcaption></figure>
Azmi said it appeared that Muhyiddin wanted to lower the temperature and alleviate the party’s internal turmoil by emphasising that Bersatu&#8217;s focus was on the Sabah polls.
However, he said this was merely kicking the can down the road, and questioned how long this latest compromise after the MPs’ show of support for the president would last.
“Eventually, this leadership issue will still blow up,” he said. “It may not even be after the Sabah polls but before polling day.”
Bersatu has been facing escalating tensions since the sacking of Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan and the suspension of Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, amid an apparent leadership feud between Muhyiddin and Hamzah.
Several leaders purportedly aligned with Hamzah, including Indera Mahkota MP Saifuddin Abdullah, have called for Muhyiddin to step down as Bersatu president.

MatchPoint Times

Replacing Hamzah as opposition leader would doom PN, says analyst

This follows rumours of a push for Bersatu vice-president Radzi Jidin to take over the role from Hamzah Zainudin.

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