Malaysian United Indigenous Party

Formation

On 10 August 2016, former UMNO deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin submitted an application for the party's registration with himself as president, Mukhriz Mahathir as deputy president, and Mahathir Mohamad as chairman. BERSATU's formation was undertaken by former members of UMNO in opposition to the then-prime minister Najib Razak.^[9]

On 12 November 2016, Mahathir announced that the party would join the Pakatan Harapan opposition coalition, which then consisted of Parti Keadilan Rakyat, the Democratic Action Party, and Parti Amanah Negara, pending the decision of the Malaysian Islamic Party, another opposition party. He expressed the need for a united opposition in order to defeat the incumbent Barisan Nasional government.^[10][11] It officially joined the coalition on 13 December.^[12]

Forming a Pakatan Harapan government

The 2018 general election saw the Pakatan Harapan coalition and its allies win 121 seats in the country's lower house of parliament, enough to form a majority government. BERSATU itself won 13 seats and garnered 5.9% of the vote. As the coalition's prime ministerial candidate,^[13] Mahathir was sworn in as Malaysia's seventh prime minister at 93 years of age, becoming the world's oldest elected head of government.^[14] Mahathir had previously held the position of prime minister from 1981 to 2003, during he led the Barisan Nasional coalition as leader of the United Malays National Organisation.^[15]

In the aftermath of the election which ended Barisan Nasional's 60-year-long rule over the country, members of parliament, state assemblymen, and senators defected from UMNO to BERSATU. They included high-ranking UMNO politicians such as Mustapa Mohamed and Hamzah Zainudin, with the latter claiming 36 Barisan Nasional members of parliament had signed a pledge supporting Mahathir.^[16] The party also benefitted from an exodus of members from UMNO's Sabah chapter, from which it gained In total, the party gained an additional 12 members of parliament and two senators from May 2018 to February 2019.^[17][18][19]

Collapse of Pakatan and formation of Perikatan Nasional

The government of Pakatan Harapan collapsed in February 2020 when Mahathir tendered his resignation as prime minister and the party announced its withdrawal from the coalition. This occurred against a backdrop of increasing tension within the coalition and speculation that Mahathir intended to form a new coalition that would exclude his designated successor, Anwar Ibrahim. With the loss of 26 members of parliament from BERSATU as well as an additional eleven members from Anwar's Parti Keadilan Rakyat, the coalition lost its majority in parliament.^[20][21] The eleven rebel members of parliament, led by Mohamed Azmin Ali, later joined the party.^[22]

Mahathir had also resigned as party chairman, a decision which the party's supreme council rejected unanimously in an emergency meeting.^[23][24] Pakatan Harapan member parties also announced their support for Mahathir to remain as prime minister despite his resignation.

The formation of a new coalition government began when BERSATU announced that they would nominate party president Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister,^[25] although a supreme council member claimed he had neither been invited to discuss or informed about the decision.^[26] This was followed by declarations of support from the United Malay National Organisation, the Malaysian Islamic Party, Malaysian Chinese Association, and Malaysian Indian Congress.^[27] The nomination faced pushback from youth leader Syed Saddiq, who objected to working with UMNO, suggesting a split within the party over Muhyiddin's candidacy.^[28] This was further reinforced when Mahathir announced that he had the necessary support from Pakatan Harapan to return as prime minister and denied having supported Muhyiddin's bid for the position.^[29]

Muhyiddin was sworn in as the country's eight prime minister on 1 March, leading the newly founded Perikatan Nasional coalition consisting of the United Malay National Organisation, Malaysian Islamic Party, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah, Homeland Solidarity Party, and BERSATU into government.^[30][31]

In May, Mahathir Mohamad, Mukhriz Mahathir, Syed Saddiq, Maszlee Malik and Amiruddin Hamzah were expelled from the party after opting to sit with the opposition in parliament, citing a provision in the party's constitution that automatically revoked the membership of individuals who joined other parties.^[32][33] Mahathir had initially sought to table a motion of no confidence against Muhyiddin during a one-day meeting of parliament, the first since the formation of the new government, but was prevented from doing so after Muhyiddin ordered the speaker to end proceedings immediately after the king's speech.^[34]

In June, the party another lost a member of parliament when Shahruddin Md Salleh resigned from his position as Deputy Minister of Works and joined the opposition, referring to his decision to join the government as a "mistake".^[35][36] However, independent member of parliament Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz, a former member of UMNO, would join the party a few days later.^[37]

The party was embroiled in a scandal when it was revealed in June and July 2021 that two separate events involving party members had occurred sometime during the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, with participants reportedly contravening the Malaysian movement control order, a lockdown imposed by the Malaysian government in response to the pandemic.^[38][39][40]

Loss of majority in parliament

Tension within the Perikatan Nasional coalition government resulted in Muhyiddin's resignation as prime minister in August 2021. United Malay National Organisation president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that the party would be withdrawing its support for the government in July 2021, but faced opposition from Ismail Sabri, the then-deputy prime minister, who led a faction within the party that continued to support Muhyiddin.^[41] The split led to uncertainty as to whether Muhyiddin's government continued to possess a majority in parliament,^[42] with Muhyiddin ultimately resigning on 16 August.^[43] He was succeeded by Ismail Sabri on 21 August,^[44] with BERSATU members being appointed in his cabinet.

Return to opposition

The 2022 Malaysian general election resulted in the party making big gains and winning in former UMNO strongholds. However, the election resulted in a hung parliament. UMNO president Zahid Hamidi's decision to form a government with Pakatan Harapan instead of Perikatan Nasional, as well as Muhyiddin's rejection of the King's offer to form a unity government, resulted in BERSATU becoming the opposition. The party continued to make massive gains in the 2023 Malaysian state elections, resulting in the party falling short of a majority in Selangor which had been heavily targeted.

Despite the party's successes, the post-election period witnessed a massive upheaval due to an intraparty struggle between the pro-Muhyiddin and the pro-Hamzah faction. BERSATU has also lost heavily in 4 consecutive by-elections, Pulai, Kuala Kubu Baharu, Nenggiri and Mahkota, leading to deep doubts about its long-term viability as a party. In November 2025, BERSATU was wiped out in the 2025 Sabah state election.

Supreme Leadership Council (2024–2027)

Youth Wing (ARMADA)

Women Wing (SRIKANDI)

Associate Wing (BERSEKUTU)

Chairman

President

Deputy President

Youth Chief

Dewan Negara (Senate)

Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives)

Members of Parliament of the 15th Malaysian Parliament

Main article: Members of the Dewan Rakyat, 15th Malaysian Parliament

BERSATU has 19 members in the House of Representatives.

More information State, No. ...

State	No.	Parliament Constituency	Member
Perlis	P002	Kangar	Zakri Hassan
Kedah	P004	Langkawi	Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah
	P006	Kubang Pasu	Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail
	P014	Merbok	Mohd Nazri Abu Hassan
	P017	Padang Serai	Azman Nasrudin
	P018	Kulim-Bandar Baharu	Roslan Hashim
Kelantan	P026	Ketereh	Khlir Mohd Nor
	P027	Tanah Merah	Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz
Terengganu	P038	Hulu Terengganu	Rosol Wahid
Perak	P074	Lumut	Nordin Ahmad Ismail
Pahang	P091	Rompin	Abdul Khalib Abdullah
Selangor	P092	Sabak Bernam	Kalam Salan
	P093	Sungai Besar	Muslimin Yahaya
Putrajaya	P125	Putrajaya	Radzi Jidin
Malacca	P134	Masjid Tanah	Mas Ermieyati Samsudin
Johor	P143	Pagoh	Muhyiddin Yassin
	P154	Mersing	Muhammad Islahuddin Abas
Sabah	P183	Beluran	Ronald Kiandee
Sarawak	P205	Saratok	Ali Biju
Total	Perlis (1), Kedah (5), Kelantan (2), Terengganu (1), Perak (1), Pahang (1), Selangor (2), F.T. Putrajaya (1), Malacca (1), Johor (2), Sabah (1), Sarawak (1)

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Dewan Undangan Negeri (State Legislative Assembly)

Malaysian State Assembly Representatives

Main article: List of Malaysian State Assembly Representatives (2023–present)

Perlis State Legislative Assembly 5 / 15 Kedah State Legislative Assembly 11 / 36 Selangor State Legislative Assembly 11 / 56 Terengganu State Legislative Assembly 5 / 32

Perak State Legislative Assembly 8 / 59 Kelantan State Legislative Assembly 5 / 45 Penang State Legislative Assembly 4 / 40 Malacca State Legislative Assembly 1 / 28

Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly 2 / 36 Pahang State Legislative Assembly 2 / 47 Johor State Legislative Assembly 2 / 56 Sabah State Legislative Assembly 0 / 79

Sarawak State Legislative Assembly 0 / 82

More information State, No. ...

State	No.	Parliamentary Constituency	No.	State Assembly Constituency	Member	Notes
Perlis	P001	Padang Besar	N01	Titi Tinggi	Izizam Ibrahim	State EXCO
	P002	Kangar	N07	Sena	Marzita Mansor
			N09	Kuala Perlis	Abu Bakar Hamzah	Menteri Besar
	P003	Arau	N11	Pauh	Megat Hashirat Hassan	State EXCO
			N12	Tambun Tulang	Wan Zikri Afthar Ishak
Kedah	P004	Langkawi	N01	Ayer Hangat	Shamsilah Siru
			N02	Kuah	Ahmad Pared Mahamud
	P005	Jerlun	N03	Kota Siputeh	Mohd Ashraf Mustaqim Badrul Munir
	P006	Kubang Pasu	N05	Bukit Kayu Hitam	Halimaton Shaadiah Saad	State EXCO
	P008	Pokok Sena	N11	Derga	Muhamad Amri Wahab
	P009	Alor Setar	N12	Suka Menanti	Dzowahir Ab Ghani	State EXCO
	P010	Kuala Kedah	N16	Kubang Rotan	Mohd Salleh Saidin
	P011	Pendang	N19	Sungai Tiang	Abdul Razak Khamis	Deputy Speaker
	P012	Jerai	N21	Guar Chempedak	Abdul Ghafar Saad
	P016	Baling	N30	Bayu	Mohd Taufik Yaacob
	P017	Padang Serai	N34	Lunas	Khairul Anuar Ramli
Kelantan	P026	Ketereh	N25	Kok Lanas	Mohamed Farid Mohamed Zawawi	Deputy Speaker
	P027	Tanah Merah	N27	Gual Ipoh	Bahari Mohamad Nor	Deputy State EXCO
	P030	Jeli	N36	Bukit Bunga	Mohd Almidi Jaafar
			N37	Air Lanas	Kamarudin Md Nor	State EXCO
	P032	Gua Musang	N44	Paloh	Shaari Mat Hussain	Deputy State EXCO
Terengganu	P033	Besut	N04	Hulu Besut	Mohd Husaimi Hussin
	P034	Setiu	N06	Permaisuri	Mohd Yusop Majid
	P035	Kuala Nerus	N11	Seberang Takir	Khazan Che Mat	Deputy Speaker
	P038	Hulu Terengganu	N21	Telemung	Mohd Zawawi Ismail	Deputy State EXCO
	P040	Kemaman	N30	Kijal	Razali Idris	State EXCO
Penang	P042	Tasek Gelugor	N06	Telok Ayer Tawar	Azmi Alang
	P044	Permatang Pauh	N10	Seberang Jaya	Izhar Shah Arif Shah
			N12	Penanti	Zulkefli Bakar
	P053	Balik Pulau	N40	Telok Bahang	Muhamad Kasim
Perak	P056	Larut	N07	Batu Kurau	Mohd Najmuddin Elias Al-Hafiz
	P57	Parit Buntar	N9	Kuala Kurau	Abdul Yunus Jamahri
	P58	Bagan Serai	N10	Alor Pongsu	Noor Azman Ghazali
	P059	Bukit Gantang	N13	Kuala Sepetang	Ahmad Man
	P061	Padang Rengas	N19	Chenderoh	Syed Lukman Hakim Syed Mohd Zin
	P067	Kuala Kangsar	N34	Bukit Chandan	Hashim Bujang
	P074	Lumut	N52	Pangkor	Norhaslinda Zakaria
	P076	Teluk Intan	N56	Changkat Jong	Nadziruddin Mohamed Bandi
Pahang	P084	Paya Besar	N18	Lepar	Mohd Yazid Mohd Yunus
	P086	Maran	N25	Kuala Sentul	Jasri Jamaluddin
Selangor	P094	Hulu Selangor	N07	Batang Kali	Muhammad Muhaimin Harith Abdullah Sani
	P095	Tanjong Karang	N09	Permatang	Nurul Syazwani Noh
	P096	Kuala Selangor	N10	Bukit Melawati	Noorazley Yahya
			N12	Jeram	Harrison Hassan
	P097	Selayang	N13	Kuang	Mohd Rafiq Mohd Abdullah
	P098	Gombak	N17	Gombak Setia	Muhammad Hilman Idham
			N18	Hulu Kelang	Mohamed Azmin Ali	Opposition Leader
	P105	Petaling Jaya	N33	Taman Medan	Afif Bahardin
	P111	Kota Raja	N49	Sungai Kandis	Wan Dzahanurin Ahmad
	P112	Kuala Langat	N53	Morib	Rosnizan Ahmad
	P113	Sepang	N55	Dengkil	Jamil Salleh
Negeri Sembilan	P130	Rasah	N20	Labu	Mohamad Hanifah Abu Baker	Opposition Leader
	P133	Tampin	N35	Gemas	Ridzuan Ahmad
Malacca	P136	Tangga Batu	N11	Sungai Udang	Mohd Aleef Yusof
Johor	P143	Pagoh	N7	Bukit Kepong	Sahruddin Jamal
	P154	Mersing	N32	Endau	Alwiyah Talib
Total	Perlis (5), Kedah (11), Kelantan (5), Terengganu (5), Penang (4), Perak (8), Pahang (2), Selangor (11), Negeri Sembilan (2), Malacca (1), Johor (2)

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State governments

BERSATU currently lead the state of Perlis and worked as coalition partner with PAS in Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah state governments. In the past, it led Perak, Johor and Kedah under Pakatan Harapan as well as Perak and Sabah under Perikatan Nasional

• Perlis (2022–2025, 2025–present)
• Kelantan (2020–present)
• Terengganu (2020–present)
• Kedah (2018–2020, 2020–present)
• Sabah (2019–2020, 2020–2022)
• Perak (2018–2020, 2020–2022)
• Johor (2018–2020, 2020–2022)
• Sarawak (2020–2021)
• Malacca (2018–2021)
• Penang (2018–2020)
• Selangor (2018–2020)

Note: bold for coalition lead, italic as junior partner

More information State, Leader type ...

State	Leader type	Member	State Constituency
Perlis	Menteri Besar	Abu Bakar Hamzah	Kuala Perlis

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Legislative leadership

More information State, Leader type ...

State	Leader type	Member	State Constituency
Kedah	Deputy Speaker	Abdul Razak Khamis	Sungai Tiang
Kelantan	Deputy Speaker	Mohamed Farid Mohamed Zawawi	Kok Lanas
Terengganu	Deputy Speaker	Khazan Che Mat	Seberang Takir

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Official opposition

More information State, Leader type ...

State	Leader type	Member	State Constituency
Negeri Sembilan	Opposition Leader	Mohamad Hanifah Abu Baker	Labu
Selangor	Opposition Leader	Azmin Ali	Hulu Kelang

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General election results

More information Election, Total seats won ...

Election	Total seats won	Seats contested	Total votes	Voting Percentage	Outcome of election	Election leader
2018	13 / 222	52	718,648	5.95%	13 seats; Governing coalition (Pakatan Harapan, later Perikatan Nasional)	Mahathir Mohamad
2022	35 / 222	87 (under PN) (Peninsular, Sarawak, and Beluran) 6 (under GRS) (Sabah except Beluran)	2,196,236	14.16%	21 seats; Opposition coalition (Perikatan Nasional)	Muhyiddin Yassin

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State election results