“Hamzah Zainudin should step aside voluntarily as Opposition Leader as he no longer has the standing to hold the post.”
— Muhyiddin Yassin, Bersatu President
THIS week, let us take a closer look at the position of the Opposition Leader in the Malaysian Parliament as the incumbent, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, is mired in controversy over his post.
First, how is the Leader of the Opposition chosen? According to Wikipedia, the Opposition Leader is, by convention, the leader of the largest political party in the Dewan Rakyat that is not in government. He has to be a serving Member of Parliament.
In most parliamentary systems, including Malaysia’s, the leader of the opposition is chosen by the minority bloc in Parliament according to its own internal rules. A new leader may emerge when the incumbent resigns, loses the support of his colleagues, or is replaced through internal party or coalition decisions.
This brings us to the situation now facing Hamzah.
Hamzah became Opposition Leader after the 2022 general election, when the opposition coalition, Perikatan Nasional (PN), nominated him for the role. At that time, he was a prominent member of Parti Bersatu.
However, events have taken a dramatic turn since then.
Hamzah was expelled from Bersatu last month amid an internal leadership dispute with party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Following his expulsion, Muhyiddin publicly urged Hamzah to relinquish the Opposition Leader’s post, arguing that he no longer has the mandate of the party that originally backed his appointment.
Muhyiddin said Hamzah should voluntarily step aside, adding that there was no longer any basis for him to remain in the seat. He also called on PAS to nominate a new Opposition Leader from among its MPs.
Hamzah, however, responded with defiance.
The Larut MP said he would only step down if a majority of Perikatan Nasional MPs asked him to do so. According to him, no single party has the authority to decide his fate.
“If opposition MPs no longer want me as their leader, I will step down as that would be the will of the majority,” he was quoted as saying.
Despite a show of support from 13 Bersatu MPs who back him to remain in the post, the political reality within PN appears to be shifting.
PAS leaders have openly expressed their view that it is time for the role to change hands. Recently, PN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar indicated that the coalition would name a new Opposition Leader from PAS by the end of this month.
PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan also confirmed that the coalition’s component parties had agreed that PAS should assume the role.
Given these developments, Hamzah’s position has effectively been left hanging in limbo.
In truth, the writing is already on the wall.
It is understood that the Opposition Leader should come from the largest opposition party in Parliament. PAS currently holds the largest number of seats among opposition parties. It therefore has a legitimate claim to nominate the next leader.
This is not merely a matter of party pride. It is about maintaining the credibility and coherence of the opposition bloc.
An Opposition Leader must command the respect and confidence of the MPs he leads. Without that backing, the ability to coordinate strategy, challenge government policies and present a united alternative to the electorate becomes severely weakened.
For that reason alone, Hamzah should consider stepping aside voluntarily. Such a move would not be a sign of defeat but rather a demonstration of political maturity and respect for parliamentary convention.
History has shown that the role of Opposition Leader can be a powerful platform when handled effectively.
Malaysia has seen several Opposition Leaders who performed admirably in the position. Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang, for example, spent decades as one of the most formidable parliamentary critics of government policy. His persistence and mastery of parliamentary debate earned him respect even among political opponents.
Similarly, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, during his years leading the opposition, demonstrated how the post could be used to galvanise public opinion, articulate alternative policies and keep democratic discourse alive.
These leaders understood that the Opposition Leader’s role extends far beyond partisan politics. It is about safeguarding democratic accountability and ensuring that Parliament remains a forum where government actions are rigorously examined.
A strong government needs a strong opposition. Without it, parliamentary democracy risks becoming little more than a rubber stamp.
That is why the current dispute over the opposition leadership should be resolved quickly and decisively. Prolonged uncertainty only weakens the credibility of the opposition and distracts from its duty to serve as an effective counterbalance to the government.
Hamzah may still have a future role to play in Malaysian politics. But on this particular matter, the prudent course is clear.
If the majority of opposition MPs and the coalition leadership believe that PAS should assume the role, then it would be wise for him to bow out gracefully.
In politics, as in life, knowing when to step aside can sometimes be the most dignified decision of all.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com.
