Bersatu-PAS tensions simmer as Muhyiddin eyes Melaka clean sweep

Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has acknowledged unresolved tensions with PAS but remains optimistic about his party’s prospects in the Melaka state election. — Picture via Facebook/ts.muhyiddin

By Malay Mail

First Published: Saturday, 07 Nov 2026 11:15 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 — Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has acknowledged that unresolved tensions with PAS within Perikatan Nasional (PN) prompted his party to contest the Melaka state election under its own logo.

“We have been facing problems with PAS within PN, and these issues have yet to be resolved,” the former prime minister was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia after campaigning in Bachang today.

“That is why we decided to field our candidates in seven constituencies using this logo.”

The Melaka state election, scheduled for November 14, will see 79 candidates competing for 28 seats in the state assembly, with early voting set for November 10.

Bersatu is fielding seven candidates under its own banner, while PN is contesting five seats, including two allocated to PAS.

Muhyiddin said some voters remained confused about the distinction between Bersatu and PN, prompting him to instruct party leaders to clarify Bersatu’s position during the campaign.

“Some people are still confused about Bersatu and PN. So, in Melaka, we are contesting under the Bersatu symbol,” he said.

Despite the tensions, Muhyiddin expressed confidence that Bersatu could win all seven seats it is contesting, citing an encouraging response from voters in constituencies he had visited.

He said the reception to Bersatu’s own logo in Melaka appeared stronger than when the party previously used it in Negeri Sembilan.

“We first used it in Negeri Sembilan. The response in Melaka appears to be even better,” he said.

“People can easily understand and identify what our party stands for, especially when they meet me.”

Muhyiddin said he hoped the positive reception would translate into victories in all seven constituencies.

In the previous state election in 2021, Barisan Nasional (BN) secured a commanding majority with 21 seats, while Pakatan Harapan (PH) won five and PN took two.