The potential expulsion of Bersatu’s deputy president could trigger mass defections and destabilise the Perikatan Nasional coalition, warn political analysts.
KUALA LUMPUR: The potential expulsion of deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) could significantly weaken the party and destabilise the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, political analysts said.
Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan said the impact of such a move would be substantial, given Hamzah’s standing within the party and among its grassroots supporters.
“The dismissal, or even the perception of a dismissal, could have a deep impact because Hamzah has his own followers and supporters within Bersatu.”
In contrast, leaders aligned with party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin do not have as many supporters at the grassroots level, he claimed.
He also said if Hamzah is expelled, it could trigger a wave of exits from Bersatu, particularly among MPs loyal to him, with rumours circulating that as many as 15 MPs could follow suit should he leave the party.
However, Azmi said the anti-party hopping law may complicate immediate realignment.
He added that as elected representatives are restricted from switching parties without risking their seats, Hamzah and his allies could instead choose to remain as independent MPs while lending support to another political bloc.
He said the question would then be which coalition they choose to support.
Regardless of the immediate alignment, Azmi believes the damage to Bersatu would be inevitable as a mass exit by Hamzah’s supporters would expose internal leadership problems and further weaken the party.
He also suggested that PAS, Bersatu’s key partner in PN, may reconsider its position if the crisis deepens as the issue could have an impact on the very existence of the Opposition bloc and PAS would not likely want to be dragged into internal problems that could weaken the party.
Sharing similar concerns, International Islamic University Malaysia political science associate professor Dr Syaza Shukri said Bersatu would face both numerical and narrative setbacks if Hamzah is removed.
She said Hamzah is not only the Opposition leader but also a senior figure with support from key party leaders, adding that if his faction were to leave, Bersatu could be left primarily with Muhyiddin loyalists.
She drew comparisons with previous splits, including when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad left Bersatu, taking prominent leaders such as Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and Dr Maszlee Malik with him.
However, she also said the optics surrounding Hamzah’s potential expulsion would be different.
“He would be seen as being ‘oppressed’ and he could use that leverage as someone portrayed as fighting to save Bersatu but ultimately dismissed,” she said, likening it to Muhyiddin’s criticism of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak when he was still in Umno, which strengthened his image at the time.
Syaza added that Bersatu risks being increasingly perceived as a political vehicle centred on Muhyiddin if dissenting leaders are pushed out.
At the same time, she pointed out that Muhyiddin has been less visible and less outspoken than Hamzah in criticising the current Madani government.
Speculation has intensified that Hamzah, who has been called up to face the Bersatu Disciplinary Board, would be expelled from the party.
The Larut MP was supposed to appear before the party’s disciplinary board yesterday to assist in an investigation into his alleged involvement in the chaos during the annual general assembly and alleged attacks on the party president.
However, Hamzah is currently abroad and notified the disciplinary board that he could not attend the session.
The Sun Malaysia
