Two analysts have interpreted Hamzah Zainudin’s expression of readiness to succeed Bersatu party president Muhyiddin Yassin as a gentlemanly yet firm message of the need for a leadership change.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s Mazlan Ali said the statement by Hamzah, the party’s deputy president, could also be viewed as a subtle nudge for Muhyiddin to step aside and facilitate a smooth transition.
“By declaring he is willing to take over the reins from Muhyiddin, Hamzah was providing the former prime minister an opportunity to exit gracefully to prevent divisions in the party once he (Muhyiddin) resigns,” he told FMT.
Mazlan, however, said Hamzah had unwittingly piled additional pressure on Muhyiddin who knows he must step down as president to avoid internal divisions within…