BATU PAHAT: Former Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi took a jab at the party for fielding many "recycled and mediocre" candidates for the Johor election.
Puad, in a Facebook posting, said the candidates did not reflect the aspirations of young voters.
He said the list of candidates announced after today's nomination process failed to demonstrate renewal within the party, but instead remained dominated by leaders from the older generation.
"Umno, as an 80-year-old party, should have given more opportunities to fourth-generation leaders, but many of those selected are from the third generation.
"Nomination Day is over. Umno has fielded many recycled, mediocre candidates who go against the aspirations of the younger generation.
"The party's line-up is disorganised, uninspiring and does not represent change. Why? Because it is run like a family party, with candidates chosen from among cronies and golf partners.
"There are also individuals who rejoined Umno only a month ago and have easily been made candidates.
"One generation spans 20 years. Umno is now 80 years old. It should be led by the fourth generation, such as Onn Hafiz, but unfortunately, many recycled candidates from the third generation have been selected.
"As a result, Johor Umno has failed to meet the aspirations of young people. The fourth generation has been sidelined. That is what Akmal does not understand," he said.
Puad also questioned the selection of several experienced candidates who had either previously lost elections or had been dropped from earlier contests.
"Why field recycled candidates such as Datuk Halim Suleiman in Tiram (lost in 2018, aged 64), Dr Adham Baba (dropped for the 15th General Election, aged 64), and Samsolbari Jamali (six-term representative, aged 65)?
"Then there is Alwiyah Talib (65 years old, a two-term Bersatu assemblyman who rejoined Umno only a month ago and was immediately made a candidate), Azhar Ibrahim (lost in 2018, while Haslinda, a first-term Wanita exco member, was dropped), Zaidi Jaafar (lost in 2018) and Youzaimi Yusof (lost in 2022)," he said.
He claimed that highly qualified individuals such as Datuk Dr Fuad Tukirin, who holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), had been overlooked and replaced by another candidate for the Bukit Naning seat.
"Even more puzzling is that a candidate with a PhD like Datuk Fuad Tukirin has been replaced by someone whose highest qualification is the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) in Bukit Naning. How can young people be attracted to Umno?" he asked.
He added that the selection of only one representative from Puteri Umno as a candidate also showed that opportunities for young leaders remained limited.
"It is understandable why Puteri Umno is upset, as only one of its representatives has been chosen as a candidate. The risk is that young voters may once again reject Umno in this election," he said. - NST
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