Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has urged former Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi to stop criticising the party and avoid raising issues that could create an unhealthy atmosphere during the Johor state election campaign.
Zahid, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, described Puad’s remarks that Umno had fielded ‘recycled’ candidates as his personal opinion.
“He is our friend, but it is best that we put this matter to rest so it does not create problems later on.
“If one issue is raised, others will respond. Such back-and-forth is not healthy,” he told reporters after launching the BN election machinery in the Sri Gading parliamentary constituency.
Sri Gading comprises the Parit Yaani and Parit Raja state seats, both of which are being defended by BN in the Johor election.
Zahid dismisses Puad’s criticism
Earlier, Puad said Umno risked losing the support of young voters after fielding what he described as a lineup of ‘recycled and mediocre candidates’.
He said the party should be led by its fourth generation of leaders, such as Johor BN chairman Onn Hafiz Ghazi, but argued that many of its candidates still belonged to the third generation.
Zahid also advised Umno’s election machinery not to respond if Puad continued raising the issue, saying such exchanges would not benefit the party during the campaign.
Hopes PAS support will become votes
Commenting on PAS’s directive for its members and supporters to vote for BN candidates in constituencies not contested by Perikatan Nasional (PN), Zahid said he hoped the instruction would translate into votes for all 56 BN candidates contesting in the Johor election.
“I hope those words are backed by action and not merely empty promises,” he said.
Earlier, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the directive was issued to ensure members and supporters backed BN candidates in seats where PN is not contesting.
PN contesting 33 seats
Under PN, PAS is contesting 11 seats, Bersatu 16, the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) five, and Pejuang one. The coalition’s other two component parties, Parti Wawasan Negara and Gerakan, are not contesting the Johor state election.
