Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi has quit the party over alleged royal interference in party matters.
This includes alleged interference with the upcoming Johor polls.
“My main reason to quit Umno is that Johor Umno is no longer free to make decisions. Johor Umno is controlled by the palace in making decisions.
“One clear example is (caretaker menteri besar) Onn Hafiz Ghazi admitting to me during a meeting at Saujana (menteri besar's residence) on June 21.
“He informed me that the palace decreed to him to dissolve the Johor legislature on June 1,” Puad claimed in a statement today.
He alleged that there were many other examples that Onn is a “puppet”, which has caused Johor Umno to be bound.
Malaysiakini is attempting to get a response from Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim regarding Puad’s allegations.
Onn: Royal assent is not interference
In a statement responding to Puad, Onn denied being instructed by the palace to dissolve the legislature.
He said that what he had informed the former Johor legislative speaker was that the legislature was dissolved after getting royal assent, in line with proper constitutional procedures on the matter.
“Getting royal assent is a constitutional procedure and does not mean there were instructions or political interference.
“As such, it is very irresponsible for him to spin the valid constitutional process and create the perception that the royal institution interfered with Johor Umno’s dealings and decisions,” the caretaker menteri besar said.
He added that police reports would be lodged against Puad over his claims.
Royal encroachment?
While Article 23(2) of the Johor Constitution states that the ruler may dissolve the legislature, this is usually understood to be read together with Article 7(1), in which the ruler acts on the advice of the executive.
Article 7(2) of the state constitution makes it explicit that, in terms of dissolving the legislature, the ruler only has discretion to withhold consent to a request for early dissolution.
If Puad’s allegations are true, it would be another example of Johor’s royalty exerting influence over state politics.
Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar had admitted in 2023 that he appointed Onn as menteri besar to spite BN, whom he viewed as challenging his authority in choosing the state’s chief executive.
“They made a mistake. Hasni (Mohammad) was made to be a poster boy, and all of them (BN assemblypersons) signed declarations supporting him.
“What, you push me to the wall? Within our (Johor) constitution, the only person who can decide on the menteri besar is the sultan.
“That’s why I changed it (appointment) and shocked everybody,” Sultan Ibrahim said in an interview with The Straits Times.
As for Puad, this is not the first time he has kicked up a fuss during election time.
In 2018, after he was not picked to defend the Batu Pahat parliamentary seat, Puad made veiled threats to contest as an independent. However, he did not follow through.
This time around, he announced his retirement as a legislator, saying he was too old to contest. It is unclear if there is another motive behind his current outburst. - Mkini
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