FORMER Rengit State Assemblyman (ADUN), Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, has openly expressed his support for Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the seat, Mohamad Yazid Bakri, in the Johor State Election (PRN).
Through a campaign poster uploaded to his Facebook page, the former UMNO Supreme Working Council (MKT) member stated that he made his choice based on the candidate's personality, rather than party factors.
"Now I am not a party member. I chose the candidate because of his personality. Therefore, I choose brother Yazid,” he said.
He then listed five reasons for supporting Mohamad Yazid, namely that the candidate is a native of Rengit, lives in the area, owns a house in Rengit and is the chairman of a surau in Rengit.
The poster also carried the slogan "Orang Rengit Jaga Rengit" and displayed the candidate number and PH symbol to urge voters to support Mohamad Yazid.
The former State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker announced his exit from UMNO with immediate effect on June 25.
UMNO Secretary-General Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki later claimed that Puad had threatened to quit the party and publicly criticised it if his son was not nominated for the Rengit seat.
Mohd Puad won the Rengit State Legislative Assembly (DUN) seat in the 2022 Johor State Election (PRN) with a majority of 1,920 votes.
He obtained 7,903 votes in total, defeating three other candidates from Perikatan Nasional, PKR, and Pejuang. - July 4, 2026
