Malaysia opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin expelled from party amid political turmoil

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysian opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin has been expelled from the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) party effective immediately, the party announced Tuesday.

The decision followed a meeting of the party’s disciplinary board on Monday. Hamzah, who serves as the party’s vice president, faces allegations of sabotaging the organization and plotting to oust Chairman Muhyiddin Yassin.

The purge included 16 other party members, including three Members of Parliament and two state assemblymen. Hamzah retains the right to appeal the decision.

The Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), a partner in the Perikatan Nasional coalition, expressed shock at the development.

Internal conflict within Bersatu is expected to escalate as branch leaders reportedly prepare to mobilize in support of Hamzah and demand Muhyiddin’s resignation. Hamzah is scheduled to hold a press conference on Feb. 15.

The expulsion of Hamzah Zainudin is more than a mere disciplinary measure; it marks a high-stakes escalation in the power struggle within Malaysia’s Bersatu party. The move signals a definitive attempt by party president Muhyiddin Yassin to neutralize a rival power center, yet the aggressive strategy carries profound systemic risks.

The broad purge—which includes 16 other members, several of whom are sitting legislators—is a significant political gamble. Should Hamzah’s faction successfully mobilize the 120 division leaders they claim to command, Bersatu faces the imminent threat of mass defections or the emergence of a splinter party. Such a fracture would effectively hollow out Bersatu’s grassroots infrastructure.

This internal volatility is already destabilizing the Perikatan Nasional (PN) opposition coalition. The "shock" expressed by PAS, Bersatu’s primary coalition partner, points to a widening rift in the opposition’s unified front. A fractured Bersatu significantly diminishes PN’s standing as a credible alternative to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s ruling coalition, casting doubt on their ability to mount a coherent challenge to the current administration.

Strategically, the timing provides a windfall for the incumbent government. The infighting forces the opposition to prioritize internal damage control over policy scrutiny or legislative pushback. The coming days will be a critical bellwether for Malaysian politics, as Hamzah’s anticipated response and the scale of his internal support will determine whether Bersatu remains a viable political force or fades into irrelevance.