SHAH ALAM - As speculation grows that the 16th General Election (GE16) could be called as early as September, questions are mounting over whether Perikatan Nasional (PN) is fully prepared to face the polls, particularly on the issue of leadership and who will emerge as the coalition’s Prime Minister candidate.
Political analyst Anis Anwar Suhaimi said PN has yet to formally settle on a clear Prime Minister candidate due to the coalition’s internal political calculations involving both Bersatu and Pas.
He said Bersatu would naturally still want to reclaim the prime ministerial position, especially after producing two Prime Ministers in recent Malaysian political history, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad after GE14 and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during the PN administration.
At the same time, he said Pas also has strategic reasons for keeping the leadership question open, particularly as the party currently possesses the strongest electoral machinery within PN through its grassroots network and dominance in several Malay-majority states.
“However, Pas may also understand that naming a Prime Minister candidate too early could reduce PN’s flexibility, especially if the coalition later needs to negotiate post-election arrangements with other parties or blocs,” he told Sinar Daily.
Despite the lack of an official announcement, Anis said Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar is increasingly being viewed by observers as the coalition’s emerging figurehead heading into GE16.
“That said, if we look from the perspective of public perception, Samsuri is clearly being read by many observers as the intended or emerging candidate being projected by Pas and PN,” he said.
He added that Samsuri’s appointment as PN chairman has elevated his national profile while strengthening his image as a more technocratic opposition leader.
On PN’s recent internal disputes and resignations, Anis acknowledged that the situation has affected public confidence to some extent, especially among fence-sitters and moderate voters seeking a stable alternative government.
“To a certain extent, the internal issues within PN have affected public confidence, especially among fence-sitters, moderate voters and those who are looking for a stable alternative government.
“Leadership disputes, resignations and public disagreements inevitably create an impression that the coalition is still struggling to settle its internal hierarchy,” he said.
Still, he said many voters today are less focused on elite-level political infighting and more concerned about economic pressures and whether a coalition’s values align with their social and ideological worldview.
“For some voters, especially within the Malay-Muslim electorate, PN may still remain attractive despite its internal problems because it is seen as ideologically familiar and culturally close,” he added.
On the coalition’s overall preparedness if GE16 is held earlier than expected, Anis described PN’s readiness as "uneven."
“It is not accurate to say PN is completely unprepared, but it is also not accurate to say the coalition is fully settled across all fronts,” he said.
He noted that Pas remains PN’s strongest electoral machinery, particularly in Malay-majority constituencies where the party has long-established grassroots structures and disciplined campaign operations.
However, Anis said PN’s readiness becomes less convincing in mixed and non-Malay constituencies where component parties outside Pas need to play a stronger role.
Meanwhile, Bersatu Supreme Council member Dr Afif Bahardin said PN is still actively preparing its election machinery and refining its strategy ahead of the next polls.
“I wouldn't say that we are ready 100 per cent but the effort and also the work that need to be carried out for election or to prepare the machinery to prepare the ground is ongoing at the moment intensely,” he said.
Afif said PN is currently focused on developing policy offers to the rakyat and preparing for the upcoming Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat (IPR) convention, which will serve as a platform for opposition parties to present their vision and governance plans.
“These are the things that we are focusing on. There’s a lot of issues especially with the current challenge of the economic crisis that we are facing but I think long-term wise people also want to know where is the direction,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that PN faces significant electoral challenges in states such as Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Melaka, Pahang and Perak due to their more complex demographic composition.
He said the challenge for Bersatu, Pas and PN was not only to convince Malay voters, but more importantly to gain the confidence of non-Malay voters and persuade them to give the coalition a chance to govern in the next election.
On the question of PN’s Prime Minister candidate, Afif confirmed that no final decision has been made at coalition level, although Bersatu continues to back Muhyiddin.
“For PN, discussions have not yet reached the stage where a decision has been made.
“However, based on Bersatu’s stand, we are proposing Muhyiddin as our Prime Minister candidate for consideration by the PN coalition,” he said.