{
  "id": 16242262,
  "title": "Hadi, Hamzah dan teka-teki calon PM",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/hadi-hamzah-dan-teka-teki-calon-pm",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-23T23:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/pandangan/2026/10/24/hadi-hamzah-dan-teka-teki-calon-pm"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The presence of PAS President Hadi Awang during the Dewan Rakyat session has often been controversial, particularly when opposition politicians used it to question his responsibility as a Marang MP. Consequently, whenever Hadi attended the Dewan, his involvement was almost certain to draw attention. This was the case on October 12, when he sat beside PKR Leader Hamzah Zainudin as the PAS President discussed the 2027 Budget. After Hamzah finished speaking, both remained together with a majority of the opposition MPs present. At first glance, these moments may seem unremarkable; one former party president attended to listen to the PKR leader, and then posed for a picture with political allies. However, in the current political landscape, especially as the 16th General Election (PRU16) draws nearer, even seemingly ordinary actions can invite broader interpretation. One relevant question is whether Hadi's presence was merely a show of support for Hamzah as the PKR Leader, or if it reflected a greater belief in his leadership potential following the dissolution of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) alliance. This becomes relevant as the opposition parties now seek new forms of cooperation following the rejection of the PN registration. With parties like PAS, Wawasan, Gerakan, Pejuang, and MIPP potentially forming a new political bloc, the dynamics could shift. Meanwhile, the name of Terengganu Chief Minister Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar cannot be overlooked. The deputy president of PAS has long been considered a potential national leader, even having been appointed PKR Leader when PN still functioned as an alliance. However, developments since then have added another dimension. Just last month, Hadi announced that Hamzah would once again become PKR Leader following Samsuri's brief tenure in that position, following the majority of the opposition MPs switching their support to Hamzah. This decision came after a majority of the opposition MPs' confidence shifted to Hamzah. This is not the first time Hamzah has gained political trust linked to PAS; following PRU15, his appointment as PKR Leader was also part of PAS's contingency plan. While none of these episodes suggest that Hadi has chosen Hamzah as a prime ministerial candidate, no such announcement has been made. Hadi has previously emphasized that the candidate choice can only be evaluated after knowing each party's true strength in the polls. However, the numbers become significant at this point. PAS has 43 MPs in the House of Representatives, making it the single largest party represented there. If PAS can maintain or increase its numbers in PRU16, its role in determining the government's form after the election will become even more prominent. The discussion of a prime ministerial candidate also cannot be separated from the possibility of cooperation between PAS and the Barisan Nasional (BN), particularly Umno, based on the renewed emphasis on national unity. In such a scenario, the name of Umno President Zahid Hamidi also emerges. In a September interview, former Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming speculated that Zahid could become prime minister if a \"blue wave\" enables BN, PAS, and their allies to form a government after PRU16. Ong believes Zahid could be a candidate accepted by other parties as well, including those from Sabah and Sarawak. However, his position is likely to depend on Umno's performance. Umno currently has 26 MPs. If the party returns to a dominant position with a noticeable increase in seats in PRU16, Zahid or another leader of Umno would have a stronger basis to be considered as a prime ministerial candidate. But what if PAS remains the largest party in the bloc? If PAS gains more seats while Wawasan's leadership under Hamzah loses some ground due to the political cooperation formed leading up to PRU16, the power balance within the bloc could change. In the absence of a clear majority party, the support from PAS would become highly valuable. The constitution provides the Yang di-Pertuan Agong with the authority to appoint a prime minister from among the Dewan Rakyat members, and in such a scenario, PAS's stance on who should lead the government cannot be taken lightly. Is Samsuri the preferred choice? Could PAS be willing to endorse Zahid if Umno were to regain strength? Or could Hamzah's name be brought up again? Although Hamzah has no openly declared intention to run, the country's political history shows that the final decision on the prime ministerial candidate is not always made early through posters, conventions, or party announcements. Sometimes, the true decision emerges only after the election results are known, when seat counts clearly show which party can secure a majority. That is why Hadi's presence beside Hamzah on October 12 should not be read too far. It is not evidence that a decision has already been made. However, it is also difficult to separate it from several developments before it — from Hamzah's appointment as PKR Leader, his return to the position, to the evolving political relationships.",
  "summary": "Hubungan politik Hadi Awang dan Hamzah Zainudin semakin menarik diperhatikan ketika percaturan calon perdana menteri pembangkang mula diperkatakan menjelang PRU16.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}