Don’t vote BN till 2 key issues solved, Puad tells Rengit constituents

PETALING JAYA: Ex-Umno leader Puad Zarkashi has urged his former constituents in Rengit not to vote for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the July 11 polls until two major issues in the constituency are resolved by the Johor government.

He said Rengit struggles with water supply woes and the frequent collapse of a water retention bund in Kampung Berong Laut, which causes floods for nearby residents.

Puad, who was Rengit assemblyman from March 2022 until the Johor assembly’s dissolution earlier this month, said he had repeatedly asked menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi to visit the area and survey the issues himself.

He said a visit by the menteri besar would have been a key “push factor” in encouraging government agencies to act more swiftly to resolve the issues.

“But Onn Hafiz placed more focus on urban areas. He often went to Skudai, whose then assemblyman Marina Ibrahim was from DAP,” he said in a Facebook post.

Puad said the site and allocations for a new water tank had already been approved, but the appointment of contractors was repeatedly delayed.

“The response of executive councillors in the state assembly keeps changing. As for the collapsed bund, I have gone to the site 25 times. Why can’t the menteri besar visit just once to see for himself the quality of work?

“I ask voters in Rengit to hold off casting their ballots for BN until these two major issues are resolved. Make that a condition for your vote.”

Puad resigned from Umno last week, saying he could no longer remain silent over what he described as Johor Umno’s lack of autonomy in decision-making.