Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi resigned immediately from Umno on June 25, 2026, citing dissatisfaction with the candidate selection process ahead of the Johor state election [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Puad alleged that Johor Umno was not independent and that state party decisions and the June 1 dissolution of the Johor state assembly were influenced by the Johor palace [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. He challenged party leaders on this point, asking why former Endau candidate Alwiyah Talib, aged 64, was suddenly chosen as a Barisan Nasional nominee less than a month after rejoining Umno from Bersatu [4].
Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki denied all claims of palace interference, calling them "slanderous and baseless." He said Puad’s resignation was driven by personal interests, noting, "He wrote to me at length, threatening to quit the party and attack Umno if the party leadership did not consider his son as a candidate for the Rengit seat" [1]. Asyraf emphasized, "Umno is not a party of inheritance where leadership positions are passed down within families. It cannot be held hostage by personal pressure or threats" [2].
In contrast, Puad rejected the notion that his resignation was over his son’s candidacy. He said it was a protest against the party sidelining youth and pushing older candidates, implying cronyism in nominations [4]. He described his resignation as a "kamikaze" mission to wake party leaders [4].
Puad’s son, Omar Hafidz Mohd Puad, defended the resignation as necessary to save Umno’s future beyond immediate electoral gains. He criticized party leaders for prioritizing short-term wins over addressing deeper problems, saying, "What is more worrying is when the 'real fighters' in the party choose to remain silent and do not dare to speak out about what is happening within the party" [6].
The Johor State Legislative Assembly was dissolved on June 1, 2026. The nomination day for the upcoming state election is set for June 27, with polling scheduled on July 11 [1].
Umno appointed Senator Halim Suleiman, aged 64, to replace Azizul Bachok as the candidate for the Tiram seat, reflecting the party’s candidate preferences under scrutiny [4]. The Barisan Nasional coalition won 40 seats in the previous Johor state election [6].
