Malaysia Islamist Party Ascends in Opposition Coalition Shake-Up

Malaysia’s Islamist party is taking control of the opposition coalition following months of internal rift, a move that could increase its influence and disrupt the political landscape ahead of a general election due by 2028.

The Perikatan Nasional alliance named Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar from the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, known as PAS, as its chairman, according to a joint statement by leaders of the four component parties Sunday. The position was left vacant after former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin of the Bersatu party stepped down recently.