Bersatu's bloody purge tightens Muhyiddin's grip – but fractures deepen

The sacking of Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin and 16 others strengthens Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's grip on Bersatu – but risks splintering the party and weakening the wider Perikatan Nasional bloc.

KUALA LUMPUR: It was less a spring clean and more a political decapitation. Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), a core component of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) opposition coalition, has carried out a sweeping internal purge that has thinned its top ranks and intensified doubts about its stability.

Seventeen members, including secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, were dismissed.

This goes beyond routine disciplinary action. It is an open power struggle – and one side has prevailed decisively.

Bersatu’s disciplinary board said that after careful deliberation and based on “overwhelming evidence”, the Supreme Council endorsed the recommendation to terminate the memberships for gross insubordination and actions deemed detrimental to the party’s stability and unity.

At the centre of the storm is Hamzah, widely regarded as the party’s chief strategist and organisational anchor.

His removal, alongside 16 others, sends tremors through Bersatu and the broader opposition bloc.

The accusations are familiar in party battles: insubordination, undermining leadership and acting against party interests. In practical terms, they point to a direct challenge to party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The confrontation did not erupt overnight. For months, unease had been building within Bersatu over Muhyiddin’s leadership style and the party’s trajectory.

By mid-2025, talk of a growing faction had surfaced. Hamzah, though publicly loyal, was increasingly perceived as the focal point for members dissatisfied with the status quo.

Dissent soon shifted from private murmurs to public criticism. Several MPs, including some of those now expelled, openly questioned party decisions and floated the idea of leadership change. Reports emerged of closed-door meetings aimed at consolidating support against Muhyiddin.

Last month, Muhyiddin issued a clear warning that loyalty was non-negotiable. The purge signals that the warning has now been enforced.

The move tightens Muhyiddin’s grip on Bersatu and removes internal rivals. The message is unambiguous – dissent carries consequences.

But the fallout has been immediate. Following the expulsions, 11 Bersatu division chiefs from Pontian, Simpang Renggam, Sembrong, Mersing, Johor Bahru, Pengerang, Labis, Tanjung Piai, Seri Gading, Ledang and Pulai resigned from the party.

They cited an ongoing leadership crisis, saying the dismissal of senior figures and MPs had clouded the party’s direction and eroded confidence among members and voters.

Yesterday, Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin resigned as Bersatu Masjid Tanah division chief, joining 39 other division committee members who had also quit. Meanwhile, Bersatu’s Bintulu division had became the first in Sarawak to have all its members collectively resign and exit the party.

For PN, the implications are significant. The coalition has lost one of its most seasoned political operators, potentially weakening its parliamentary coordination and electoral machinery. Whether Pas and Gerakan can steady the bloc remains to be seen.

The internal rupture also shifts political momentum. While Bersatu manages its upheaval, the ruling unity government faces reduced pressure from a divided opposition.

Hamzah’s exit is unlikely to mark the end of his political journey. He retains networks, experience and influence. Forming a new platform or aligning elsewhere are plausible next steps, and his next move will be closely watched.

In the weeks ahead, the question will be whether Muhyiddin’s consolidation strengthens Bersatu in the long term or accelerates fragmentation. Either way, the opposition landscape has been reshaped.