UMNO secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has alleged that Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi’s decision to leave the party was driven by disappointment over candidate selection in Johor rather than concerns about alleged palace interference in state Umno affairs.
Responding to recent claims by the former Umno Supreme Council member, Asyraf said Puad had previously sent him a lengthy message threatening to quit the party and publicly criticise its leadership if his son was not considered as a candidate for the Rengit state seat.
According to Asyraf, Puad had pushed for his son to succeed him in the constituency, but the party’s leadership was obliged to consider a range of factors before deciding on candidates.
“He himself wrote to me at length, threatening to leave the party and attack Umno if the top leadership did not consider his son for Rengit,” Asyraf said in a Facebook post.
While acknowledging that Puad’s son was young and had leadership potential, Asyraf stressed that Umno’s candidate selection process could not be based solely on family ties or personal preferences.
He argued that it was inappropriate for a veteran party leader to expect a constituency seat to be handed over to a family member, adding that political appointments should be determined by merit and broader electoral considerations.
Asyraf further claimed that Puad had a history of threatening to leave Umno when his demands were not met.
“For the record, this is not the first time he has threatened to leave the party. During Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s presidency, he also threatened to quit Umno after not being renominated for the Batu Pahat parliamentary seat,” he said.
The remarks came after Puad alleged that the Johor Palace had exerted influence over Umno Johor, including decisions that eventually led to the dissolution of the Johor state assembly on June 1.
Asyraf dismissed the allegation as baseless, insisting that Umno’s struggle should never be dictated by individual disappointment or personal ambitions.
“Umno is not a hereditary party where leadership positions are reserved for family members or close associates,” he said.
He added that it was unfair for individuals who had benefited from positions and opportunities within the party to later turn against Umno simply because their personal expectations were not fulfilled.
Asyraf said Umno must continue to uphold its role as a party dedicated to serving the nation, religion and people, while remaining firm against pressure from any individual seeking to place personal interests above the party’s collective agenda. – June 25, 2026
