Former Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi has responded sharply after being told he should join DAP following his appearance at a Pakatan Harapan campaign event for the Johor state election.
Puad was among the speakers at a PH ceramah in Felda Ulu Tebrau last night, where PH chairman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was the main speaker, in support of PH candidate Maszlee Malik.
His involvement drew criticism from Umno Supreme Council member Razlan Rafii, who is also political secretary to Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and who mocked Puad by suggesting he join DAP.
Puad dismissed the remark as reflecting what he described as a narrow political mindset among certain Umno leaders who, he said, were still relying on outdated narratives.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 in a Facebook post.
He added that Umno appeared increasingly disconnected from younger voters, arguing that the party should be led by newer generations rather than what he described as recycled leadership.
Puad also stressed that PH and Barisan Nasional are part of the same federal government, saying his presence at a PH event should not be seen as controversial.
“PH and Barisan Nasional are part of the same federal government, which I support. So there is nothing wrong with me appearing on a PH stage,” he said.
The former Rengit assemblyman has been openly critical of Umno since leaving the party on June 25, including questioning its internal decision-making autonomy and candidate selection for the Johor election.
He has also expressed support for PH candidate Yazid Bakri in Rengit, a seat currently being defended by BN candidate Zaidi Japar.
