KUALA LUMPUR – Though party leaders deny it, Bersatu could do with a leadership shake-up, and secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin might be the best man to lead the party at the moment, analysts say.
Amid talk that the opposition party has split into two camps – those who want a leadership change and support Hamzah for it, and those who want the status quo under president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin – Hamzah is seen as a more suitable candidate.
While Hamzah, the Larut MP, is not as strong a leader as Muhyiddin, political analysts have said the party is in dire need of change in order for it to remain relevant in the country’s political landscape.
This is especially considering recent developments in the party, which has “lost” six of its MPs who declared support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, although they did not quit Bersatu.
Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Oh Ei Sun said that Hamzah could only be considered a slightly better candidate than Muhyiddin, as the former had not demonstrated a particularly strong performance in his role as opposition leader.
“Perhaps at best a slightly better one. Hamzah might be powerful within the party, but he doesn’t command the kind of charismatic appeal outside of the party, not even vis-à-vis PAS, which is on the ascendancy,” he told Scoop.
Bersatu is on shaky ground not just because several of its MPs have switched support to Anwar, but it is also threatened by PAS, Oh added.
“PAS is also poised to take over Perikatan Nasional (PN).”
Echoing similar sentiments, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) political science lecturer Assoc Prof Syaza Shukri agreed that Hamzah could be a better choice for the Bersatu president’s post.
“I don’t think Hamzah is better, but he is seen as a more confident leader than Muhyiddin,” she said.
Ahead of Bersatu’s supreme council meeting last Sunday, speculation had arisen suggesting Hamzah would be dismissed as secretary-general, with the possibility of Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali taking over the position.
This followed rumoured discord within the party after six Bersatu MPs declared their support for Anwar and amid grumbling that Muhyiddin was not doing enough to steer the party. In November last year at the party’s annual general assembly, Muhyddin said he would not seek another term as president but made a U-turn the very next day.
One of the six party lawmakers who have switched support, Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, has said more Bersatu lawmakers would be supporting Anwar when Parliament convenes in late February, adding that those who have done so are disappointed with the party and feel neglected.
He told the media of the party’s lack of direction and funding, noting that Bersatu MPs in PAS-led states currently relied on financial allocations from their PN coalition partner.
The other five who have switched support are Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), and most recently, Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tg Karang).
Dissolve and join PAS or Umno
With a lack of clear political positioning, whether within the PN coalition or within the pan-Malay sociopolitical landscape, Oh said Bersatu should consider dissolving and have its members join another party.
“Until this (party positioning and direction) is resolved one way or another, it is difficult to see how it could be revived. So it really doesn’t matter who is leading it in the near future,” he added.
“Don’t dream too high. Just dissolve and either join PAS or Umno.”
Oh noted that Bersatu was set up as “a convenient political tool” for its founder, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and later, for Muhyiddin.
Dr Mahathir, seeking to oust Datuk Seri Najib Razak as prime minister, founded Bersatu in 2016 and the party joined Pakatan Harapan (PH), which won the 2018 general election and formed the federal government. Muhyiddin, in 2020, used Bersatu, some rogue PKR MPs and PAS to topple the PH government and become prime minister.
“Now Bersatu lacks direction without their (Dr Mahathir and Muhyiddin’s) leadership.
“It’s advised to salvage what’s left while there’s still a chance, as its stature will continue to decline over time,” Oh said.
Bersatu, IIUM’s Syaza said, has always been in a shaky position; despite its ability to sway votes away from both PH and Barisan Nasional, its success in the 2022 federal polls was largely attributed to PAS’ popularity.
“I think some are unhappy because they see Muhyiddin as not very effective.
“Bersatu needs to really think about what kind of party it wants to be. Right now, there is no clear direction on where it will be years from now,” Syaza said, adding that the prospect of dissolving and joining Umno would likely not be welcomed.
Path to restoration
Universiti Teknologi Mara political analyst Abdul Aziz Azizam said any individual who were to take over the Bersatu presidency now would struggle to restore the party.
He said Bersatu was in its current dire straits, with six of its MPs supporting the government of the day, because the party needed finances.
As opposition MPs do not receive allocations, there is always the possibility of shifting views and support, he noted.
This has made Bersatu appear weak, with leaders who are inconsistent in upholding the voters’ agenda and unable to function effectively as an opposition party.
It is not serving as a check and balance to the government’s decisions, as an opposition party should do, nor is it providing alternative decisions and policies.
“When this function is not carried out effectively, democracy cannot operate efficiently,” Aziz said.
All this is causing Bersatu to also lose the trust of its allies in PN.
“The party’s leadership will face significant challenges, which include restoring the public’s confidence in the party while simultaneously fostering trust with others in the PN coalition.
“This is not an easy task and cannot be accomplished quickly, but if Bersatu can effectively address this issue, it may regain its potential and become competitive in the current political landscape.”
Aziz said Bersatu could still have a role in Malaysia’s political landscape, and it was good to have a variety of political parties to offer choice to the public. – February 2, 2024