PN unity intact despite Muhyiddin PM nomination and GE15 funding claims - Dr Sam
Samsuri said minor differences in opinion were common within any political alliance and should be viewed as healthy discussions aimed at reinforcing PN’s foundation.
KUALA TERENGGANU – Pas Vice-President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar has downplayed talk of internal conflict within Perikatan Nasional (PN), describing differences between Pas and Bersatu as normal and part of efforts to strengthen the coalition ahead of the next general election.
Samsuri said minor differences in opinion were common within any political alliance and should be viewed as healthy discussions aimed at reinforcing PN’s foundation.
“I am 100 per cent confident that PN will continue to be strengthened. Whatever arises is merely a family discussion to reinforce the coalition’s readiness before we face the election, which could be held within the next year or two.
“It is better for these matters to be discussed now, even if it seems there are differences. In truth, all of it is within the scope of strengthening PN. So I have no concern about it,” he said.
Samsuri was responding to recent remarks following claims made by Datuk Dr Marzuki Mohamad, the former Principal Private Secretary to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who alleged that Bersatu had fully funded PN’s campaign during the 15th General Election (GE15).
Earlier reports stated that Bersatu’s annual general assembly had also approved a motion to nominate Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the 11th Prime Minister, one of three main resolutions agreed upon during the assembly.
Samsuri stressed that Pas remained committed to the spirit of unity within PN, saying the coalition’s cooperation was intended to benefit the people.
“We respect the decisions of our component partners and the main focus now is to ensure PN continues to be the people’s choice in the upcoming election,” he said.
He added that PN had started a series of tours in Sabah to assess the coalition’s strength and determine which seats to contest in the upcoming state election.
“We know politics in Sabah is very dynamic. Even close to the election, new parties still tend to emerge. So Pas and PN remain committed to contesting and forming political cooperation with the winning parties after the state election,” he said.
The upcoming Sabah State Election holds particular significance due to Sabah’s historically fluid political environment, frequent party switching, and coalition realignments.
The 16th Sabah State Legislative Assembly, elected in 2020, saw Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) secure a majority.
Even though the assembly’s term extended to December, speculation had grown over an early dissolution.
In Sabah, coalition dynamics were complex: GRS itself comprised local parties but must navigate tensions with Peninsula-based coalitions, while parties like Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) engaged in seat negotiations and strategic alignments.
The political volatility was magnified by Sabah’s ethnic diversity, local development issues, infrastructure gaps and debates over devolution of powers under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
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