Former Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi has defended his decision to campaign for Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidates in the Johor state election, dismissing suggestions that he should join DAP.
Puad was among the speakers at a campaign event in Felda Ulu Tebrau on Saturday night in support of PH candidate Maszlee Malik. PH chairman and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was the main speaker at the event.
Rejects DAP label
Following the event, Umno Supreme Council member and political secretary to the Umno president, Razlan Rafii, mocked Puad and suggested that he should join DAP.
Responding on Facebook, Puad said such remarks reflected the narrow mindset of certain Umno leaders who continued to rely on outdated political narratives.
“They are still practising small-minded politics. Do Umno leaders think that Umno will gain Malay support by associating anyone with DAP?” he said.
Says Umno must appeal to younger voters
Puad also argued that Umno was becoming increasingly disconnected from younger generations, particularly Gen Z and Gen Alpha voters.
He said the party, now 80 years old, should be led by its fourth generation of leaders instead of relying on recycled leadership, adding that some party leaders remained unwilling to embrace change.
Defends appearance on PH stage
Puad maintained that there was nothing wrong with his appearance at a PH campaign event, noting that Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional are partners in the federal government, which he supports.
The former Rengit assemblyman has been openly critical of Umno since resigning from the party on June 25. Among his criticisms were claims that the party lacks autonomy in making decisions.
He also questioned Barisan Nasional’s choice of candidates for the Johor state election, including the decision to field former Bersatu assemblyman Alwiyah Talib in the Endau seat.
Puad has also publicly backed PH candidate Yazid Bakri in Rengit, where Barisan Nasional’s Zaidi Japar is defending the seat.
