Puad: Umno doesn't need a self-engrossed yet weak 'poster boy'

Puad: Umno doesn't need a self-engrossed yet weak 'poster boy'


Less than 24 hours after former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak was sent to prison for his criminal convictions, an Umno supreme council member suggested that they withdraw their “poster boy” for the 15th general election (GE15).

Puad Zarkashi (above), who is also the Johor state assembly speaker, said Umno and BN cannot have a poster boy who is over perasan (self-engrossed) and lembik (weak).

He added that having a “poster boy” could backfire and suggested for Umno to capitalise on the time-tested BN logo instead.

"Despite the matter having been decided, since (the poster boy) has now become a liability, we should just forget about it. A living person is easier to get slandered.

"Thus, it is better for us to make the BN logo our ‘poster boy’. A non-living object is hard to slander. Besides, the BN logo is well known to the rakyat.

"We cannot have a ‘poster boy’ who is over perasan and lembik. Harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi," said Puad on his Facebook page.

Harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi is a Malay saying that refers to an act of betrayal, often used to describe someone entrusted to protect something but, in turn, becomes the culprit that destroys it instead.

While Puad did not name anyone, he appears to be targetting Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob. The latter also serves as Umno vice-president.

In April, Ismail Sabri was named as Umno's prime ministerial candidate for GE15, making him the party's “poster boy” for the polls.

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak


Malaysiakini is reaching out to Puad for clarification, including if he called Ismail Sabri weak because of the latter’s refusal to intervene in Najib’s case.