Dropped in Batu Pahat, Puad Zarkashi resigns as Special Affairs Department (Jasa) director-general and hits out at Umno’s “broken, corrupted” selection system.
- Claims that his efforts to defend the government through Jasa doesn’t seem to be worth it
- Alleges Haliza is a candidate with controversy and linked to personal moral issues
- Vows to fight to the last drop (of blood)
Mohd Puad Zarkashi confirmed today that he has resigned as the director-general of Jasa, ending speculation that he would quit if he was not nominated as a Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for a seat in Johor in GE14.
He said in a post on his Facebook account that today was his last day at the department and that he would not change his mind on his decision to quit.
Puad had contested as the BN candidate for the Batu Pahat parliamentary seat in GE13 but lost to Mohd Idris Jausi of PKR by 1,732 votes.
Last Monday, Johor BN chairman Mohamed Khalid Nordin announced Batu Pahat Wanita Umno chief Haliza Abdullah as the electoral candidate for Batu Pahat.
Until last Sunday night, a message believed to be from Puad had circulated on WhatsApp expressing his desire to resign as the Jasa chief and contest as an independent candidate if he was not nominated by BN.
Puad, who is the Batu Pahat Umno division chief, was appointed the Jasa director-general in March 2015. He thanked Jasa staff for their assistance when he helmed the department.
“Indeed, many will condemn me. I remain steadfast. That’s the end of my history at Jasa. It was a hot spot.
“DAP had brought a motion in Parliament early this year seeking the dissolution of Jasa. Prior to this, PH (Pakatan Harapan) had proposed in its budget that Jasa should be shut down.
“If you want me to recall one by one, I have done a lot for Jasa, so much so that it has become increasingly known, including in the interior areas of Sabah and Sarawak and also among Malaysian students abroad,” he said in the post.
Puad also responded to allegations that he was upset and sulking, saying such remarks come from those who have not followed his political career.
“In the 1999 general election, my name was removed (from the candidates’ list) at the eleventh hour because I was accused of being an Anwar (Ibrahim) supporter since I once taught in his school. I did not run.
“In the 2004 general election, my name never made the list although I was the deputy chief and political secretary to then Johor menteri besar (Abdul Ghani Othman). I resigned as political secretary immediately, but I did not run.
“In the 2013 general election, I lost (Batu Pahat) because of the Chinese tsunami. Many others were defeated as well but they are contesting again,” he added.
This time around, Puad said, he was dropped as a candidate within 24 hours after receiving confirmation that he would be fielded.
“I was dropped without any consultation although I am a supreme council member, director-general of Jasa and (Batu Pahat Umno) division chief,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said earlier that Puad must accept the reality that the Batu Pahat constituency was in a critical state with an erosion of support for BN.
Puad, however, denied the allegations by Zahid that there were problems in the division.
“How can it be said there is an erosion when Umno Batu Pahat succeeded in adding and transferring almost 7,000 voters until the Batu Pahat seat has become the top five in Johor to add Malay voters?”
He questioned if his being dropped as a candidate is “disciplinary action” for answering Zahid so publicly.
“If so, why was (former Terengganu Mentri Besar) Ahmad Said who brought a motion that Datuk Seri Razif be sacked as MB not subjected to action,” he pointed out.
“The system of choosing candidates is flawed, even immoral candidates are chosen. Candidates who did not help the party were also selected.
“My efforts in defending the government through Jasa doesn’t seem to be worth it, so me resigning is the best step forward,” he said.
Puad also disputed Zahid’s rationale for selecting Haliza to contest the seat, which the latter said was to ensure victory.
Casting aspersions on Haliza, he claimed that she came attached with issues that could jeopardise her chances, the Malay Mail reported.
He accused Haliza of not helping to shore up the division and of not showing up at the party’s annual assembly for five consecutive years.
“I want to ask (Zahid), will fielding a candidate with controversy and linked to personal moral issues guarantee a win?” he was quoted saying.
“What is so great about her, in his estimation? This is not a matter of sulking. This is a question of allowing a negative precedent for the future.”
Puad told The Sun that he would continue raising his opinions until justice is served, even if that meant facing repercussions from his party.
“I will fight to the last drop (of blood),” he said in a brief WhatsApp message to the daily.
When asked whether he would contest as an independent in the Batu Pahat parliamentary seat, his reply was reportedly a terse “Just wait”.
On Monday, Zahid said Puad was free to contest as an independent, if he so desired, but urged him to accept the decision and demonstrate loyalty to the party.
He also reminded Puad that the latter ran unsuccessfully for the Batu Pahat seat in 2013, but was still appointed a senator and the chief of Jasa.
If Puad contests as an independent candidate, BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said that he would be automatically suspended from the party.