Puad hints at ‘bold’ move on Johor nomination day

PETALING JAYA: Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi has hinted at a big announcement on nomination day for the Johor state election.

In a Facebook post, Puad said Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) would soon announce its list of candidates for the state polls. However, he said “there are things not right within the party’s state chapter”.

“Therefore, I will make an important announcement on June 27.

“The latest developments in Johor Umno are worrying. I will not turn back, even though I am just a small player in all this,” he said.

Last week, Puad said he would not defend the Rengit state seat in the election on July 11, citing his age. The 69-year-old said that those aged 50 and below should be fielded instead.

Puad today said he had stressed that trained and educated young people should be given the opportunity to represent the party, but this was not heeded.

“I am taking a bold political step to continue the struggle,” he added.

The Star had quoted sources as saying that Puad was among the leaders tipped to be dropped, along with former menteri besar Hasni Mohammad, who was the Benut assemblyman.

In the 2022 state election, Puad won the Rengit seat in a four-cornered contest with a 1,920-vote majority, defeating Bersatu’s Huzair Lajis, PKR’s Khairuddin Abdul Rahim and Pejuang’s Nizam Bashir Abdul Kariem Bashir.

The seat has traditionally been a BN stronghold.