Puad Zarkashi splits opinion in Batu Bahat

BATU PAHAT: While some in Batu Pahat expressed disappointment over the omission of Umno supreme council member Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi as candidate for the constituency, others appear to be more open to the idea of placing a fresh face there.
The Batu Pahat Umno division chief, who was dropped in place of the division's Wanita leader Harliza Abdullah, had dismissed claims by party leadership that Barisan Nasional's support here under him had diminished, insisting that it had improved instead.
Sales assistant Asyuana Mohd Shah, 34, in supporting Mohd Puad's claim, said she was appalled when she found out he was dropped as a candidate, claiming the latter is people-friendly and always on the ground.
"He is okay not only with the Malays, but the Chinese and Indians as well. And people have known him for a long time, there has not been any problems with him.
"(Incumbent MP) PKR's Datuk Mohd Idris Jusi hardly shows his face. As for Harliza, although she was the division's Umno Putri chief previously and is quite close with the women, we are not quite sure about her leadership," she told theSun.
Another local who only wanted to be known as Rashidah, said Mohd Puad's non-candidature could affect Umno even further in the coming polls.
"Although he lost in the last elections, he has continued to do his work here, and a lot of the people I know are quite happy with him," she said.
Mohd Puad failed to defend his Batu Pahat seat after losing to PKR's Mohd Idris Jusi with a 1,732 majority. He had won the parliamentary seat in the 2008 General Election.
Security officer Sani Kahar, 48, believes that the time has come for the constituents in Batu Pahat to elect a new representative to carry their voices.
For Sani, neither Mohd Idris nor Mohd Puad had shown an outstanding performance in appealing to the locals.
"To me, the work done by both of them here is just okay. Maybe they have their own way in engaging the people," he said.
"I believe the new candidate (Harliza) should be given the chance in the next elections," he said.
Mohd Anwar Mohd Nadzri, 31, who works in the private sector, said it would be hard to predict the outcome of the polls if Mohd Puad carried out his intention of contesting as an independent in Batu Pahat.
"The votes will be split. Some of the voters would prefer to choose the personality rather than party," he said.
Johor BN had on Monday announced that the Batu Pahat parliamentary seat would be contested by Harliza, raising speculations that Mohd Puad would contest as an independent there.