The House Of Muhyiddin Burns From Within

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Bersatu, a party once born out of ambition for reform, now finds itself in karmic decline, its foundations shaken by power hunger and betrayal.
The past weeks have exposed internal discontent, with voices like Wan Saiful Wan Jan and Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal aiming direct criticism at the man who founded the house, Muhyiddin Yassin.
At the centre of the storm is a familiar political pattern: the very individuals who were once elevated through Muhyiddin’s trust are now leading the charge against him.
Wan Fayhsal, for instance, was appointed senator, made deputy minister, and entrusted with the youth wing. Today, he joins the chorus claiming that the man who built Bersatu is no longer fit to lead it.
ADSThere is no subtlety left. The attacks are calculated, the timing deliberate. Statutory declarations are being collected. Divisional leaders are being turned. Internal WhatsApp groups are flooded with claims that the president has lost relevance. A narrative is being engineered from within, and the target is clear.
Bersatu’s current predicament mirrors the internal rebellion Umno endured during the earlier phase of Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s leadership.
Umno president Ahmad Zahid HamidiDuring his lowest point, Zahid faced mutiny from within, accused of dragging the party down. However, he responded not with sentiment, but with strategy. He outmanoeuvred his rivals, cut off disloyal factions, and rebuilt his base.
That display of political mastery not only silenced his critics but restored cohesion to Umno. Zahid did not just survive. He re-emerged stronger, a tactician who understood that leadership sometimes demands ruthless clarity. That same moment now stands before Muhyiddin.
Plots and pressures test leadership
This isn’t just about personal discontent. It is about a calculated attempt to reset the party’s hierarchy, fuelled by narratives whispered in private meetings, including allegations that Muhyiddin has fallen out of favour with the palace.
These stories have been attributed to being orchestrated by power brokers, such as Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainuddin, and have been festering within party ranks for months.
Hamzah, known as the operator since his Umno days working behind the scenes, has positioned himself as an alternative centre of gravity within Bersatu. His network includes several MPs who defected from Umno, many of whom remain loyal to him.
Bersatu president Hamzah ZainudinWith financial pressure mounting and party funds frozen by the MACC, loyalty is no longer guaranteed. As Bersatu’s financial backbone weakens, so too does its internal cohesion.
The question now is whether Muhyiddin has the political will to do what Zahid once did when facing rebellion within Umno: cut off the toxic elements and reclaim control.
Adding to the burden are controversies involving Muhyiddin’s family members. His son-in-law, now a fugitive, and his son-in-law’s cousin’s recent acquittal in a corruption case have been used to stain his name.
Muhyiddin himself is facing multiple charges related to alleged corruption, with party accounts seized and an ongoing legal battle.
ADSBut must a man be judged by his relatives’ misdeeds? If so, then Hamzah too must answer for his own: his son’s alleged cooking oil subsidy scandal and his own accounts frozen by the Inland Revenue Board back in 2023. The hypocrisy is staggering.
Act or watch it burn
The truth is, Muhyiddin became vulnerable when resources dried up. Opportunists, smelling blood, circled in. And like all political mutinies, it has been packaged in lofty terms: party reform, leadership change, strategic direction.
But the core motive is far less noble. It is about power, money, and personal advancement.
Bersatu membersBlaming Muhyiddin alone is politically convenient. He has become the easy scapegoat for a party struggling with relevance and resources. But the facts remain. Disloyalty cannot be coddled. It must be removed. If Bersatu is to have a future, it must first have a spine.
For Muhyiddin, this is a moment of reckoning. Either he confronts the rebellion, or he allows Bersatu to crumble under factionalism. The choice is simple, but the consequences will be lasting.
He should also reach across the aisle. Have a serious conversation with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Find common ground for the rakyat.
Politics must serve the people, not personal vendettas. The country is tired. If there is room for consensus in rebuilding national priorities, it must be explored. The rakyat are no longer moved by tribal posturing.
Muhyiddin still holds the key. But time is not on his side. He must act without hesitation. He must do what Zahid did: remove the threats, reestablish control, and return with purpose. There is no other route to survival.
The house he built is burning. Whether it crumbles or endures depends on whether the builder is ready to fight for its foundation. - Mkini
MAHATHIR MOHD RAIS is a former Federal Territories Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional secretary. He is now a member of PKR.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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