Latest news with #PuadZarkashi
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
PKR leader dismisses Puad's Selangor claim as ‘coffee shop talk'
PKR Youth deputy chief Izuan Kasim (left) said Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi's remarks sometimes did not reflect the direction taken by the Umno president. PETALING JAYA : A PKR leader has dismissed as mere 'coffee shop talk' a remark by Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi that it is not impossible for Umno to become dominant in Selangor. PKR Youth deputy chief Izuan Kasim told FMT that by the same logic, PKR could also become the dominant party in Johor and Melaka. 'Statements like this really don't need to be made publicly. It's fine for casual chats with friends at a coffee shop, but there's no need to make such remarks officially. 'Especially since he's not a low-ranking leader – he holds a top position. Sometimes what he says doesn't reflect the direction taken by his party president,' said Izuan, who is also the Kota Damansara assemblyman. Yesterday, Puad took a jab at Khir Toyo's move to join Bersatu, blaming the former Selangor menteri besar for Umno's loss of power in the state – a loss that persists to this day. When explaining his decision to join Bersatu, Khir claimed that Umno had lost all ambition to lead the government, whether at the federal level or in Selangor. He said Umno had become merely a supplementary party, lacking the ambition to return to power. Khir, a former Umno Supreme Council member, also believes that the party would not be allocated enough parliamentary seats in the next general election. In response, Puad argued that politics today required wisdom and trust, and that Umno's return to dominance was not far-fetched. He said that if Umno could lead in Perak and Pahang with fewer seats, it is certainly possible in Selangor, too. Izuan, however, warned that such statements could make it more difficult for Umno heading into the next general election, especially since such decisions were made by the top leadership. He added that, unlike Umno, PKR was more flexible and capable of making collective decisions, drawing from its involvement in coalitions like Pakatan Rakyat, Pakatan Harapan and now the unity government. 'We (PKR) are sincere in how we operate. But really, his (Puad's) remarks were unnecessary. There's no need to paint such a picture – he should just go enjoy his breakfast quietly,' Izuan quipped. Meanwhile, PKR central leadership council member G Gunarajah said Puad's comments should be made more carefully, especially in the current context where Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim leads a unity government. He said the unity government – which has restored political stability and investor confidence – was not built on party dominance, but on shared responsibility. 'The same applies in Selangor. Under (menteri besar) Amirudin Shari, the state administration has shown consistent and progressive achievements, and enjoys strong support across communities. 'If you want to show strength, do it by serving the people, not by trying to dominate your partners. Dominance doesn't need to be declared – let the people judge us by our performance and sincerity.'
Free Malaysia Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
‘Irrelevant' Khir Toyo out of touch with reality, says Umno leader
Umno leader Puad Zarkashi (left) said it was former Selangor menteri besar Khir Toyo who led Umno into falling out of power in the state. PETALING JAYA : An Umno leader has hit back at former Selangor menteri besar Khir Toyo after he accused his former party of losing all ambition to lead the government. Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi said Khir appeared to be out of touch with current political realities, especially when it comes to having a dominant party in government. Puad said political dominance needed to be redefined within the context of power-sharing, which he said was a common occurrence worldwide. 'Being dominant doesn't necessarily mean that Umno must contest more seats and win a two-thirds majority. In the context of power-sharing, we must be dominant in championing the people's agenda, having high-performing ministers, and upholding consistent principles. 'Dominance doesn't just mean having greater numbers,' he said in a Facebook post. Puad said sharing power at the federal level while governing Johor, Melaka, Perak and Pahang already gave Umno a good start towards becoming dominant again. 'It's not impossible to regain our past dominance. Umno is leading the Perak and Pahang state governments despite having fewer seats, so it wouldn't be impossible for this to happen in Selangor as well. 'So Khir's excuse (that Umno has lost its ambition) for him to join Bersatu is far from the reality of today's new politics. He is no longer relevant and brings no added value to Bersatu,' he said. Earlier today, Khir said Umno had become merely a supplementary party, lacking the ambition to return to power, both at the federal level and in Selangor. The former Umno leader, who recently joined Bersatu, said Umno must be the main party in power if it wanted to help the Malays. Khir was Selangor menteri besar from 2000 to 2008, when Pakatan Rakyat ousted his state administration at the polls. Since then, the Selangor government has been led by PKR. Puad said Umno has lost nothing from Khir's departure, adding that it was his 'broom legacy' that led to the party losing power in Selangor in 2008. He was referring to when Khir, as menteri besar in 2007, had given the humiliating 'award' of brooms to officers of local councils that were deemed to have underperformed in various areas. 'Umno grassroots, civil servants, the Malays and Malaysians at large won't forget Khir's 'broom legacy'. It was the reason why Umno fell out of power in Selangor till this day. 'Now he wants to talk about regaining dominance, especially in Selangor,' he said, claiming that Khir left Umno because he was not fielded in the 2022 general election.
Malaysiakini
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Emulate SIS Forum, drop 'Islam' from name, Puad tells PAS
Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi urged PAS to drop the word 'Islam' from the party's name after SIS Forum (Malaysia) earlier announced it was removing the word from its organisation's name. 'Emulate SIS Forum. It won't change your objectives. It's just to avoid any confusion,' he said on Facebook today.
Malaysiakini
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Emulate SIS Forum, drop 'Islam' from name, Puad tells PAS
Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi urged PAS to drop the word 'Islam' from the party's name after SIS Forum (Malaysia) earlier announced it was removing the word from its organisation's name. 'Emulate SIS Forum. It won't change your objectives. It's just to avoid any confusion,' he said on Facebook today.
Free Malaysia Today
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Umno man says low turnout at ‘Turun Anwar' rally won't look good for PAS
Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi said PAS will be concerned about whether it can mobilise a large crowd of its supporters to attend tomorrow's rally. PETALING JAYA : Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi says PAS's pride will be bruised if tomorrow's anti-government rally fails to attract at least 500,000 participants. PAS is spearheading the rally in Kuala Lumpur calling for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to step down, with key opposition figures such as former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin set to deliver speeches. PAS MP Shahidan Kassim has predicted a turnout of between 300,000 and 500,000 people at the 'Turun Anwar' rally, while PN deputy chairman Hamzah Zainudin has claimed that the event could attract one million participants. Puad said that while the rally's goal is to pressure Anwar to resign, PAS would be more concerned about whether it can mobilise a large crowd of its supporters to attend. 'PAS is nervous – not about whether Anwar will step down or not – but whether 500,000 people will attend,' he said in a Facebook post. 'Around 90% of the turnout will depend on PAS members, and PAS's pride will be hurt if the turnout is less than 500,000 people.' On July 12, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said the party was mobilising its members at every parliamentary and state level ahead of the rally. The rally's participants will gather at five locations – Masjid Negara, Pasar Seni, Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru and Sogo shopping mall – before marching to Dataran Merdeka. Police have said no roads will be closed in the capital city due to the rally, which is expected to be attended by between 10,000 and 15,000 participants, but diversions may be made. Puad, who is also the Johor assembly speaker, claimed that tomorrow's rally would be more effective if Umno took part in it. He noted how PAS and Umno helped force the Pakatan Harapan government to reverse its decision to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) after a key protest. The anti-ICERD rally in December 2018, which was organised by a coalition of Umno, PAS and Malay-Muslim NGOs, saw more than 30,000 participants gather at Dataran Merdeka. They claimed that ICERD was a threat to Malay rights and Islam.
