Malaysia's Muhyiddin Yassin eyes new coalition as Bersatu loses seats and Felda talks loom

Analysts say former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who has held the Pagoh parliamentary seat for nine terms, may need to join another coalition after Bersatu suffered defeats in the Bukit Kepong and Bukit Pasir state seats in Johor. With PAS having cut ties to Bersatu, the analyst warned that without the support of either Pakatan Harapan or the loose Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat coalition, Muhyiddin's electoral prospects could dim.

Former UMNO Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi highlighted that control of Felda‑linked constituencies could force UMU and PAS back to negotiations. After the non‑renewal of former Felda chairman Ahmad Shabery Cheek, the new chair Ahmad Badri Zahir oversees 26 Felda seats won by Perikatan Nasional in the last general election (PAS 16, Bersatu 10). Puad suggested the Felda issue might be the only catalyst for a "win‑win" seat‑sharing arrangement ahead of the upcoming Negeri Sembilan election, though BN chairman Zahid Hamidi denied any formal deal.