KUALA LUMPUR — Former Johor State Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi has defended his decision to recommend his son as a potential election candidate, arguing that there is nothing wrong with proposing a qualified family member for public office.
Responding to criticism that his departure from Umno was driven by dissatisfaction over his son not being selected as a candidate, Puad said the issue was being unfairly politicised while similar cases within the party had not attracted the same scrutiny.
“As for my son, what is wrong with recommending him? Why has that become an issue?” he questioned in a statement shared on his Facebook page.
Puad questioned what he described as inconsistent treatment in the party’s candidate selection process, pointing to another case involving the daughter of an Umno division leader.
“If it is unacceptable, then why was the daughter of the Ledang division chief allowed to contest in Serom?” he asked further.
According to Puad, recommending a family member should not automatically be viewed negatively, especially if the individual has been prepared and trained for political responsibilities.
“There is nothing wrong with proposing a well-trained son or daughter as a candidate,” he said.
Drawing a comparison to sports, Puad said it was only natural for parents to support and develop their children’s potential.
“A boxer trains his daughter to fight. Naturally, once she is ready, she is allowed into the ring to compete,” he added.
Puad maintained that his criticism was never solely about his son’s candidacy but rather the broader issue of how candidates were selected within the party.
Earlier, Umno secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki claimed that Puad’s decision to leave the party was not due to alleged interference by the Johor Palace but stemmed from disappointment over his failure to secure a nomination for his son in the Rengit state seat.
Asyraf alleged that the former Umno Supreme Working Council (MKT) member had previously sent him a lengthy message warning that he would leave and attack the party if his request was not accommodated.
“While he himself wrote to me at length threatening to leave the party and attack the party if the Umno top leadership did not consider his son as a candidate in the Rengit state seat,” Asyraf said in a Facebook post today.
The allegation came after Puad announced his resignation earlier today, claiming that Umno Johor was no longer free to make its own decisions and had fallen under the influence of the Johor Palace.
Meanwhile, Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Mohamad Akmal Saleh described the allegation involving the Johor Palace as serious and called for a police investigation.
“This is a very serious accusation against the Royal Institution. If you accuse the Royal Institution like this, it is a serious allegation,” Akmal said in a video posted on Facebook.
“I want to tell Datuk Puad Zarkashi that this party is not a party for children. This party gives everyone the space to work and develop their leadership abilities.
“If this party cannot fulfil Datuk Puad Zarkashi’s requests and wishes, do not accuse the party of being useless or no longer representing the aspirations of young people,” he added. – June 25, 2026