00:00UMNO Supreme Council member Pwad Zarkashi has resigned from the party with immediate effect.
00:07In a strongly worded statement, Pwad said he could no longer remain silent over Johor UMNO's lack of autonomy in
00:14decision-making.
00:15He said he could now criticize UMNO freely without being accused of betraying the party.
00:20The former Batu Pahad MP alleged that Johor UMNO was not free to make its own decisions.
00:26He accused Johor Menteri Bersar on Hafiz Ghazi of acting as a yes-man, reducing Johor UMNO to a mere
00:34puppet bound by external control.
00:37Pwad dismissed suggestions that his move was driven by personal interest.
00:41He said he was leaving at a time when UMNO was gaining strength, with prominent figures like Kairi Jamaluddin, Heshamuddin
00:49Hussain and Noh Omar having returned to the party.
00:52The resignation comes a day after Pwad hinted at a major announcement on Johor Election Nomination Day.
