Chronology Of Push To Oust Muhyiddin

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The Bersatu annual general meeting over the weekend saw an attempted coup against party president Muhyiddin Yassin.
It's a move that in one form or another has been long in the making - and involves factions from both Bersatu and its Perikatan Nasional partner, PAS.
We break down a chronology of events.
Dec 2022
After failing to form the government in the Nov 2022 general election, PN appoints Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin as opposition leader.
Muhyiddin is appointed as PN’s coalition chief in Parliament, with PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang as his deputy.
Nov 2023
At the Bersatu annual general meeting, Muhyiddin announces plans to retire as Bersatu president by 2024.
However, he makes a U-turn in less than 24 hours after Bersatu pressured him to stay on.
Late 2024
Bersatu vice-president Ahmad Faizal Azumu says PN parties should give up ambitions of replacing Muhyiddin as the coalition’s chairperson.
Bersatu vice-president Ahmad Faizal AzumuPAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin counters that the Islamist party is better suited to lead PN.
PAS leaders also push for its secretary-general, Takiyuddin Hassan, to become PN’s secretary-general after the post was vacated by Hamzah, who was elevated as PN deputy chairperson.
However, the post instead goes to Azmin Ali, a loyalist to Muhyiddin in Bersatu.
The development prompts PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar to resign as PN treasurer.
Early 2025
In February, five PAS leaders - led by deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man - and five Bersatu leaders, including supreme council member Wan Saiful Wan Jan, meet in Kuala Lumpur for a high-level meeting.
According to sources, the meeting establishes that PAS has no intentions to helm the country.
They then reportedly discuss plans to restructure PN and give significant operational powers to Hamzah.
The plan is reportedly aimed at positioning Hamzah as PN’s prime minister candidate. However, the plan is said to have stalled after resistance led by Azmin.
Bersatu deputy president Hamzah ZainudinThe PAS faction’s motivation for supporting a leadership change is unclear, but speculation is rife that Hamzah is seen as a more effective leader.
The matter came to light in June, with PAS issuing a denial. However, talk of replacing Muhyiddin with Hamzah persisted.
Muhyiddin reveals in July that he has Hadi’s backing to remain as PN chief.
One week before Bersatu AGM on Sept 6-7
A poison pen letter circulates, accusing Hamzah of planning to topple Muhyiddin.
On Sept 8, it was confirmed that around 120 Bersatu division chiefs signed statutory declarations pressuring Muhyiddin to hand over the reins to Hamzah.
Utusan Malaysia, in a report after the AGM, quotes Ampang Bersatu chief Isa Saidi as confirming the matter, and he is one of the signatories.
He says it is out of concern for the party’s survival in the next general election, with the division leaders fearing that PAS might abandon Bersatu if the two continue to be at loggerheads.
Malaysiakini is made to understand that the SDs have not been submitted to Muhyiddin.
Sept 6
Muhyiddin openly confronts those pressuring him in his opening speech at the AGM, telling them to respect the Bersatu constitution.
His remarks trigger a shouting match among delegates.
A commotion breaks out during Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin’s policy speechSept 7
The Bersatu supreme council has a morning meeting before the second day of the AGM begins.
Sources told Malaysiakini that the meeting agreed to put an end to open displays of dissent.
Later during the AGM, Bersatu delegates approve a motion for Muhyiddin to remain as president. They also approve a motion for him to be their prime minister candidate in the next general election.
In his speech later, Hamzah swears fealty to Muhyiddin.
Muhyiddin, having publicly consolidated his position, gives a shout-out to PAS in his closing speech, thanking the Islamist party for continuing to support his leadership of PN.
Sept 8
Sources tell Malaysiakini that the SD saga is not over, and that a senior leader is waiting to get an appointment to present the declarations to Muhyiddin. - Mkini

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