Citing waning popularity, Umno's Puad Zarkashi challenge Muhyiddin to remain as PN's poster boy for Johor elections

SHAH ALAM - Umno supreme council member Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi has taunted Bersatu President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to remain as the Perikatan Nasional's (PN) poster boy for the upcoming Johor state election.

In a Facebook post today, Mohd Puad had even challenged Muhyiddin to use the tagline of "Abah Sayang Johor" or a play on words on "Abah Sayang Melaka" that was used in the previous Melaka state election held last year.

"I want to challenge Muhyiddin to remain as PN's poster boy in the Johor state election. Please use a similar slogan like in Melaka, 'Abah Sayang Johor','' he said.

In the previous Melaka state election, PN had has put Muhyiddin’s image as the driving force to woo voters, with the tagline of “Abah Sayang Melaka”, or a play on words to replicate the “Abah Sayang Sabah” tagline.

Muhyiddin had used the moniker “abah” or “father” during his administration to show a so-called paternal nature over the public.

Mohd Puad then claimed that Bersatu's overall survival now hinges on Muhyiddin's supposed popularity despite being the shortest-serving prime minister.

"During the first six months as the eighth prime minister, Muhyiddin and his supporters claimed that he was the most popular prime minister. But after 17 months, Abahku lost his job as the prime minister. He is 'PMGagal' (failed prime minister),'' he said.

"The Johor state elections will determine whether PPBM (Bersatu) lives or dies. The burden falls on Abahku.

"I hope that Abahku does not regret forming PPBM and trying to kill Umno,'' he said, referring to the Muhyiddin.

Last week, Muhyiddin announced that he will not be contesting in the Johor state elections.

Muhyiddin who is the Gambir assemblyman, had won the state seat with a 3,088 majority against a three-corner fight against Barisan Nasional's Datuk M. Asojan and Pas candidate Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed in the 2018 general elections.