Not warlords but 'Pendekar Mustar', Puad describes 10 ex-Umno leaders joining PN
BATU PAHAT – Umno Supreme Working Council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi describes the 10 Umno warlords expected to join Perikatan Nasional (PN) as ‘Pendekar Mustar’.
He said the title was more suited than warlord because all the Umno leaders, including three individuals from Johor, were only opinionated behind closed doors but did not dare speak in the open.
"I do not want to dispute the statement of PN secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin regarding the 10 warlords from Umno who would join them.
"Hamzah really has the expertise to get people to 'jump parties'.
“Even before this, he has brought many Umno leaders into Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and successfully persuaded a member of the State Legislative Assembly in Perak.
"When Hamzah mentioned about the 10 leaders from Umno, I think it is true, including three from Johor. But it is just that they are not warlords but ‘Pendekar Mustar’, including one (former Umno) leader from Johor, they just dare to talk behind closed doors, more apt to call southern ‘Pendekar Mustar’,” he said at a press conference after visiting the Johor Agro People's Bazaar at the Fama Food Processing Centre, Rengit here on Wednesday.
Puad who is also the Speaker of the Johor State Legislative Assembly (DUN) said losing the 10 leaders would not be Umno’s loss as they lacked discipline.
"PN can take these people because they are not disciplined. Umno only wants people who are disciplined.
“I do not mind, take all these people, including the southern ‘Pendekar Mustar’.
"Umno is not at loss. Even before the time of Tengku Tan Sri Razaleigh Tengku Mohd Hamzah, almost all cabinet members followed Ku Li to join Semangat 46, but in the end, he rejoined Umno," he said.
Previously, PN announced that 10 Umno 'warlords' would join the coalition ahead of the upcoming elections in six states, where three of them were said to be from Johor.
According to sources, all three were influential leaders and previously held important positions in Umno.
