Malaysian key opposition party’s power struggle threatens to dent election hopes
Bersatu, a party in the PN alliance, is riven by a succession fight between its two top leaders ahead of the next general election
Bersatu, or the Malaysian United Indigenous Party, sits at the core of Perikatan Nasional (PN), a conservative alliance whose appeal surged in the 2022 poll to become the largest opposition group after a hung parliament produced a unity government led by Anwar.
The immediate trigger was a disciplinary summons issued to Hamzah, who also serves as parliamentary opposition leader. A notice dated February 6 said Bersatu’s disciplinary board had received written complaints and wanted him to respond to allegations regarding attempts to undermine the party leadership.
It warned that if he failed to attend a February 12 hearing, the board could decide the case without further input from him.
Hamzah’s allies have rallied behind him amid talk that groundwork is being laid for him to be suspended or expelled from Bersatu.