Leaked Letters Expose Rift Between Muhyiddin and Hadi Over PN Leadership

Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang are seen during a Perikatan Nasional leadership meeting. Leaked internal correspondence has revealed sharp differences between the two leaders over the coalition’s leadership structure.

KUALA LUMPUR : Leaked internal correspondence has revealed sharp disagreements between Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang over the leadership structure of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, exposing growing strains within the opposition alliance.

The letters, which surfaced ahead of an important PN supreme council meeting, show conflicting accounts of discussions surrounding the future of the PN chairman position following Muhyiddin’s resignation from the post earlier this month.

In one of the leaked letters, Muhyiddin claimed that a meeting held at his residence on Jan 16, attended by Abdul Hadi, PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, and PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, had reached a consensus to restructure PN’s leadership framework.

According to Muhyiddin, the proposal involved abolishing the PN chairman post and replacing it with a presidential council chaired by Bersatu, alongside an executive council led by PAS. He said the move was aimed at preventing further disputes and strengthening collective decision-making within the coalition.

However, Abdul Hadi strongly disputed this account, insisting that no such agreement had been reached. He maintained that PAS had never consented to abolishing the chairman role and stressed that any leadership changes must comply strictly with PN’s constitution.

In his response, Abdul Hadi argued that the position of chairman remains necessary to ensure stability and unity within the coalition. He added that the proposed presidential council should function only as an advisory body rather than replacing existing governance structures.

He also reiterated that the PN supreme council should continue to serve as the coalition’s main decision-making body, dismissing suggestions of a major overhaul to the leadership arrangement.

The exchange has intensified speculation over internal power struggles within PN, particularly following Muhyiddin’s step down as chairman on Jan 1. Since then, the coalition has been grappling with unresolved questions over succession, authority, and power-sharing among its component parties.

Political analysts say the leaked letters highlight underlying tensions as PN leaders attempt to rebalance influence between Bersatu and PAS, both of which play central roles in the opposition bloc.

Some observers believe that disagreements over leadership structure could affect PN’s organisational cohesion and electoral preparedness ahead of future state and national elections.

The public disclosure of the letters has raised concerns about PN’s ability to maintain unity at a critical time for the opposition. While party leaders have repeatedly denied the existence of serious rifts, the correspondence suggests ongoing disagreements that may require urgent resolution.

PN is expected to address the matter in upcoming meetings as the coalition seeks to contain internal divisions and present a united front to supporters.