Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, the newly appointed chairman of Perikatan Nasional (PN), confirmed today that Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is no longer the coalition’s prime ministerial candidate.
In a Facebook post, the PAS vice-president and Terengganu Menteri Besar stressed that PN’s immediate focus is on consolidating the opposition ahead of the next general election, rather than finalising a candidate for prime minister.
Responding to Muhyiddin’s recent remarks that his role as PN chairman does not make him the coalition’s candidate, Samsuri acknowledged the statement and reiterated that discussions on the premiership are not urgent. “Whoever becomes the candidate will be decided at the appropriate time,” he said, adding that the priority is strengthening PN and fostering unity nationwide.
Samsuri assumed the PN chairmanship on 22 February, following Muhyiddin’s resignation effective 1 January 2026. Muhyiddin, who led the coalition since 7 August 2020, presided over a special Supreme Council meeting at the PAS headquarters where the appointment was unanimously approved. The meeting included PN component party leaders: PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, Bersatu president Muhyiddin, Gerakan president Dominic Lau, and Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) president P. Punithan.
While Muhyiddin affirmed that PN has yet to decide on its prime ministerial candidate, Samsuri made it clear that the coalition’s priority remains reinforcing its position and preparing for the coming election.
