Zahid tells Puad to put criticism to rest

BATU PAHAT: Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has urged former Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi to stop attacking the party and refrain from raising issues that could create an unhealthy atmosphere during the Johor state election campaign.

Zahid, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said Puad’s remarks alleging that Umno had fielded “recycled” candidates were just his personal view.

“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 polls.

Earlier, Puad said Umno risked losing the support of young voters after fielding 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 lamented that many of its candidates belonged to the third generation.

Zahid also advised Umno’s election machinery not to respond if Puad continued to raise such issues.

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 directive 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 in seats where PN is not contesting.

Under PN, PAS is contesting 11 seats, Bersatu 16, the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) five, and Pejuang one. The two other PN component parties, Parti Wawasan Negara and Gerakan are skipping the state polls.