FORMER Barisan Nasional propaganda unit chief Dr Puad Zarkashi decided not to contest in GE14 on the advice of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar.

Puad, who headed Jasa, or Special Affairs Department, has been one of Prime Minister Najib Razak’s fiercest defenders in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.

“I heeded his advice as a loyal citizen of Johor because I believe he gave the advice in the interest of Bangsa Johor,” said Puad in a brief statement sent through WhatsApp tonight.

Puad also thanked the Johor Sultan for his advice and guidance.

The former Batu Pahat MP said he had been overwhelmed by calls from reporters after he failed today to file his nomination papers to contest in GE14.

The Umno Supreme Council member, had broken ranks with Umno after he was not named to contest in GE14 and threatened to contest in Batu Pahat as an independent. 

He also resigned his director-general’s post Jasa last week.

In the run-up to nomination day, Puad said Umno’s system of selecting candidates was “broken and corrupted”.

Puad lost the Batu Pahat seat to PKR’s Mohd Idris Jusi in GE13. – April 28, 2018.