Umno’s rivals could exploit discord over Puad’s resignation, says analyst

PETALING JAYA: Puad Zarkashi’s resignation from Umno reinforces perceptions of internal discontent within the party, which rivals could exploit in the upcoming Johor polls, an analyst says.

Asrul Sani, associate vice-president of The Asia Group, said Puad, one of Umno’s old guard, was no ordinary member.

As one of the party’s “political bruisers,” Puad’s resignation carries a “symbolic weight,” he said.

Asrul said Puad had played an instrumental role in holding Umno together, including when Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned in 2016 and turned the party’s “discontent into an organised electoral challenge through Bersatu,” as well as when Shafie Apdal left.

Asrul said such resignations carry political significance as they could cause personal or factional unhappiness to snowball into a broader platform of dissent.

“Puad’s case is not yet at that scale, but it could become more significant if it encourages others to break ranks or weakens local mobilisation,” he told FMT.

Asrul also said former Batu Pahat MP Puad’s exit highlights the fact that, despite being in possession of the strongest machinery, Umno was not immune to resentment, factional politics and disputes over candidate selection.

“It gives opponents an opening to question Umno’s discipline and readiness for the polls, while any split in the party can be turned into a wider opposition narrative that the ruling party is divided, defensive and unwilling to reform.”

Puad, an Umno Supreme Council member quit the party yesterday, saying he could no longer remain silent over what he described as Johor Umno’s lack of autonomy in decision-making.

Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki later alleged that Puad had threatened to quit the party and publicly criticise it if his son was not nominated for his Rengit seat in the upcoming polls.

However, Zaidi Japar was named Barisan Nasional’s candidate for Rengit when the coalition unveiled its line-up for the July 11 polls on Wednesday.

Asrul said that while Asyraf’s comments may help Umno frame this as a personal grievance, the response was equally damaging as it made the dispute more public and personal.

“Whether this becomes a real rift depends on whether Puad can take party supporters with him, or whether Umno is able to close ranks quickly.”

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara, however, said Puad’s exit was unlikely to cause a split in the party as many in Johor were aware of the political dynamics in the state.

Puad, he said, was a “lone figure” in the present affair.

Azmi also said Asyraf’s comments and Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi’s explanation on the dissolution of the state assembly had invalidated Puad’s reasons.

“So I do not see Umno members backing Puad on this matter. He is on his own.”