Perikatan Nasional

Perikatan Nasional was formed early in the 2020–2022 Malaysian political crisis with the intention of replacing the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government. Muhyiddin Yassin, then the de facto leader of PN, was appointed the 8th Prime Minister of Malaysia, bringing the informal political coalition into government. It formed a coalition government with Barisan Nasional (BN), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and other political parties which ruled from 2020 to 2022. Following Muhyiddin's resignation as prime minister in 2021, the coalition continued to participate in government under prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Following the 2022 election, coalition deputy chairman Hamzah Zainudin became Leader of the Opposition. He was briefly replaced by Chairman Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar after being sacked from BERSATU, but was reinstated in June 2026.

History

Formation

As an informal coalition, Perikatan Nasional was formed by the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU), Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), Barisan Nasional (BN), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), and Homeland Solidarity Party (STAR) at the beginning of the 2020–2022 Malaysian political crisis in a bid to replace the then ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.

Having proven to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong that the coalition held a majority of seats in the Dewan Rakyat and supported his candidacy, the coalition's de facto leader Muhyiddin Yassin was sworn in as the 8th Prime Minister of Malaysia on 1 March 2020.

As a formal coalition, it consisted of BERSATU, PAS, and STAR at the time of its registration in August 2020. It was expanded to include the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) that month, followed by Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (GERAKAN) in February 2021, and later the Malaysian Indian People's Party (MIPP) in April 2024.

Since 2020

The coalition's first election was the 2020 Sabah state election, where it won 17 state assembly seats as part of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition. It also participated in the 2021 Malacca state election and the 2022 Johor state election.

In 2021, Muhyiddin resigned as prime minister after losing his majority in parliament, with the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a major component of BN, having pulled its support.

Following the coalition's decision to contest in the 2025 Sabah state election, the SAPP exited the coalition.

Due to strained party-to-party relations, PAS decided to break political cooperation with BERSATU on 8 June 2026. Both parties however confirmed separately they would remain members of PN. Following the split, a faction from BERSATU led by Hamzah Zainudin formed a new party, Parti Wawasan Negara (WAWASAN) on 13 June 2026. PN chairman Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, taking over the post earlier in February 2026, authorised the new party to compete under Perikatan Nasional.

On 7 August 2026, the position of BERSATU as a member of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) "automatically lapsed" when its President, Muhyiddin Yassin, announced the formation of a new coalition, alleged PAS President Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, citing that according to the coalition's Constitution, when its members join another coalition, they are removed from PN. Abdul Hadi also said PN did not need to present official statement regarding BERSATU's position in the coalition because the party had in effect withdrawn on its own when making the statement. Muhyiddin was reported to have announced that BERSATU would form a new, stronger coalition with several other parties after the 2026 Negeri Sembilan state election. The BERSATU president said that the new coalition, among others, would also involved parties in the Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat (IPR), including Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (PUTRA) and the United for the Rights of Malaysians Party (URIMAI).

On 9 August 2026, BERSATU called on the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to intervene in an internal dispute within PN, alleging that PAS had breached the coalition's constitution and infringed the rights of its component parties. PN chairman Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said on the same day that BERSATU remained a member of the coalition. On 11 August, the RoS confirmed that it had received a formal complaint from BERSATU concerning the party's alleged exclusion from a PN Supreme Council meeting held on 16 July and issues relating to its membership status in the coalition.

On 22 September, the RoS issued PN a show-cause notice under subsection 13(2) of the Societies Act 1966, requiring the coalition to respond to the complaint. A separate order under subsection 13(2A), issued the following day, suspended all PN activities with effect from 23 September until further notice. The RoS stated that the show-cause notice did not constitute a decision to deregister PN, but was intended to allow the coalition to respond to BERSATU's complaint.

PN secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said the coalition disagreed with the basis of the RoS decision and would pursue available legal avenues to challenge it. He also imposed a temporary gag order restricting public statements on behalf of PN to himself and the coalition chairman. PAS said that it would comply with the notices and address the matter through the appropriate legal process.