Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar has confirmed that Bersatu remains a component party of the coalition, contradicting PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang’s earlier claim that the party had automatically lost its membership.
Samsuri, who is also a PAS vice-president, said Bersatu’s position within PN remained unchanged despite the party’s stated intention to form a new political coalition following the Negeri Sembilan state election.
“As of today, Bersatu is still a PN member,” he was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia.
His remarks come after Hadi claimed on Friday that Bersatu was no longer part of PN, citing the coalition’s constitution which he said provides for automatic termination of membership when a party chooses to join or establish another alliance.
Hadi based his argument on a previous statement by Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that the party would establish a new coalition with several other parties after the Negeri Sembilan polls.
However, Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali rejected the claim, arguing that PN’s constitution contains no provision allowing a component party’s membership to be automatically terminated in such circumstances.
The disagreement has since intensified, with Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz announcing that the party intends to lodge a report with the Registrar of Societies (RoS) over its position within PN.
Samsuri, however, appeared unfazed by the proposed report, saying it was ultimately up to the Muhyiddin-led party to decide whether to proceed with the move.
The conflicting statements have highlighted differences within the opposition coalition over Bersatu’s status, with both sides putting forward contrasting interpretations of PN’s constitution.
For now, Samsuri’s latest statement maintains that Bersatu remains within the coalition, leaving the issue of its membership at the centre of an increasingly public political dispute.
