PAS Says Hamzah Zainudin Was Always Its First Choice to Lead Opposition Bloc
PAS has clarified that Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin’s return as Opposition Leader was not a sudden decision, but rather an outcome that the party had hoped to achieve from the very beginning.
According to PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, the Islamist party had consistently favoured retaining Hamzah because of his performance and the strong support he enjoyed among Opposition lawmakers.
He said the only obstacle at the time was the political situation surrounding Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), which had been uncomfortable with Hamzah remaining in the position after he was expelled from the party.
“From the beginning, we wanted Datuk Seri Hamzah to remain as Opposition Leader because of his performance and because many MPs supported him.
“The issue then was that Bersatu was not particularly comfortable with his position after he was expelled from the party,” Tuan Ibrahim told reporters after attending a pre-election ceramah at PAS’ operations centre in Seremban last night.
The statement sheds more light on the circumstances that led to Hamzah’s temporary departure from the role and his eventual return as the head of the Opposition bloc in Parliament.
Tuan Ibrahim explained that once Hamzah decided to establish a new political party, Parti Wawasan Negara, and subsequently aligned himself with PAS, the matter was no longer linked to Bersatu.
With those concerns removed, PAS believed Hamzah should continue to serve as Opposition Leader.
“When he formed a new party and joined us, we thought it was only right to retain him in the position,” he said.
He added that the arrangement had actually been agreed upon earlier, even before PAS vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar was appointed chairman of Perikatan Nasional (PN) in February.
Ahmad Samsuri assumed the PN chairmanship after Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin stepped aside from the post, paving the way for changes within the coalition’s leadership structure.
Following Hamzah’s expulsion from Bersatu, he relinquished the Opposition Leader post, and Ahmad Samsuri was subsequently appointed to the role after a PN Supreme Council meeting held on May 16.
However, the political landscape shifted again after Hamzah launched Parti Wawasan Negara and formally aligned himself with PAS.
PAS leaders viewed the move as an opportunity to restore him to the position, arguing that his political experience and support base made him the most suitable candidate.
Tuan Ibrahim stressed that PAS’ decision was based on Hamzah’s track record rather than short-term political considerations.
He noted that Hamzah had demonstrated his ability to coordinate Opposition lawmakers and had earned the confidence of many MPs throughout his tenure.
Yesterday, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang officially announced Hamzah’s return as Opposition Leader during the RESET convention held in Tanah Merah, Kelantan.
According to Abdul Hadi, the decision was reached after consultations within PAS and discussions involving MPs as well as members of the RESET movement.
He described Hamzah as a seasoned politician who possesses extensive administrative and parliamentary experience, qualities that remain valuable for the Opposition bloc.
Hamzah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Larut, previously served in several senior Cabinet positions, including Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism.
His experience in government, combined with his influence within Opposition circles, has made him one of the more prominent political figures in recent years.
Political observers believe his return could reshape the dynamics within the Opposition bloc, particularly as PAS and its allies continue to reorganise their leadership and strategy ahead of future elections.
The decision also reflects the evolving alliances within Malaysia’s Opposition landscape, where political cooperation and leadership arrangements continue to adapt in response to changing circumstances.
For PAS, however, the message is clear — Hamzah was always their preferred choice, and his return merely formalises a plan that had been in place all along.
