Bersatu’s leadership crisis escalates as more division chiefs resign across Johor, Sabah and Sarawak following Hamzah Zainudin’s sacking.

PETALING JAYA: The internal crisis gripping Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) shows no signs of slowing, with a growing number of division leaders across the country tendering their resignations — and in several cases, their party memberships — in the wake of the shock dismissal of deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.

The turbulence began on February 13, 2026, when Bersatu’s disciplinary board expelled Hamzah alongside 16 other party leaders, including three Members of Parliament and two state assemblymen, citing violations of Clause 9.1.4 of the party constitution.

Secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali confirmed that Hamzah’s membership rights were revoked under Clause 22.5 of the party’s constitution, effective immediately.

Hamzah, who also serves as the opposition leader in the Dewan Rakyat, had been summoned to appear before the disciplinary board but was abroad at the time, accompanying his daughter for university enrolment in Sydney.

The fallout was immediate and continues to widen.

Among those to step down first were the leaders of three Perak-linked divisions. Former Bukit Gantang division chief Ahmad Man tendered his resignation effective February 17, according to a letter sighted by FMT.

Former Bagan Serai division chief Ismail Ali also announced his departure — along with his entire committee — via a Facebook video, and confirmed his exit from the party.

Tanjung Malim’s Yadzan Mohammad similarly announced his resignation and departure from Bersatu.

The wave then reached the shores of Sarawak. Bersatu’s Bintulu division became the first in Sarawak to have all its members collectively resign and exit the party, with former division chief Duke Janteng stating that the leadership unanimously resolved to step down at a special meeting attended by 110 members, including committee members, sub-branch chiefs, and Srikandi and Armada leaders.

Duke reportedly cited a loss of confidence in Muhyiddin’s leadership, alleging the party had strayed from its original commitment to championing the rights of Sarawak’s indigenous communities.

Johor Bersatu followed with its own significant rupture. Eleven Johor party division chiefs announced their resignations, spanning Pontian, Simpang Renggam, Sembrong, Mersing, Johor Bahru, Pengerang, Labis, Tanjung Piai, Sri Gading, Ledang, and Pulai.

Pontian division chief Datuk Isa Abdul Hamid, who spoke on behalf of the group at a press conference, said the prolonged leadership crisis had rendered the party’s direction unclear and eroded voter confidence — particularly alarming with a Johor state election on the horizon.

He added that the inability of both Muhyiddin and Johor Bersatu chairman Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal to unite the grassroots had been the final straw.

In Sabah, the Sepanggar and Sipitang divisions were also reported to have been affected.

Tan Sri Noh Omar (pic), a former Umno minister, had announced his resignation as a Bersatu Supreme Council member, expressing disappointment that the disciplinary board proceeded with action against leaders despite a January 12, Supreme Council meeting resolving to suspend all disciplinary measures against those concerned.

It is learnt that former Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Rais Yatim stepped down as chairman of a party unity committee established within Bersatu.

While many departing leaders have described their exits as the effective dissolution of their respective divisions, Bersatu’s leadership has pushed back on this framing.

Azmin stressed that under the party’s constitution, only the Supreme Council holds the authority to dissolve a division — and that individual division chiefs and members do not possess that power.

As such, the party maintains that the divisions in question continue to exist, even as their leaderships have vacated their posts.

As of the latest reports, over 26 Bersatu divisions nationwide have been affected by the wave of resignations, spanning Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak.

The Kepala Batas and Tanjong divisions — which together represent close to 3,000 members — cited a complete loss of confidence in Muhyiddin’s presidency as their reason for dissolving their committees.

Political analysts have warned that Hamzah’s removal could deteriorate the already-strained relationship between Bersatu and its Perikatan Nasional coalition partner PAS, with one analyst noting that Hamzah had effectively served as the bridge between the two parties.

With that bridge now broken, Muhyiddin faces the twin challenge of holding together a fractured party while managing increasingly uneasy coalition dynamics ahead of what promises to be a consequential electoral cycle.

 The Sun Malaysia