Candidate · N25 Rengit (2022)
Public-record research, not a finding of wrongdoing. Ratings are analytical opinions. Disclaimer · Request a correction
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Current
Overall due diligence
High
Enhanced due diligence required
The records show sustained senior public office (Deputy Minister, MP, Senator, state Speaker, JASA Director-General) together with an unresolved police investigation opened under the Sedition Act, Penal Code and Communications and Multimedia Act, so enhanced due diligence is warranted.
Electoral resilience
Medium
Won Batu Pahat in 2008 by 12,968 votes, lost it in 2013, then won Rengit in 2022 by 1,920 — a narrower margin; reported he will not defend Rengit.
Political continuity
High change
Long UMNO/BN office-holding followed by reported exits from UMNO (25 June 2024 and 25 June 2026 in different reports) and an earlier 2018 resignation as JASA chief in protest at candidate selection.
Integrity signal
Review
Records show no charge or conviction; they show an ongoing police investigation (153 reports nationwide) over statements alleging royal interference, and his own call for a probe into 'Mafia Korporat' video claims.
Financial / corporate
Open
The records contain no company-registry, GLC, asset-declaration, credit or court-registry material; only elected and appointed public positions are documented.
How much due-diligence attention each area needs — not a finding of wrongdoing.
Held Senator, MP, Deputy Minister, JASA Director-General and state Assembly Speaker positions.
Described as a former UMNO Supreme Council member and state Speaker with ministerial-level service.
No procurement, tender or contract records are included, despite a government department leadership role.
No directorships, shareholdings or GLC appointments appear in the records.
An investigation is confirmed as ongoing under the Sedition Act, Penal Code and Communications and Multimedia Act.
No charge or conviction is recorded; only an investigation opened after 153 police reports is documented.
No asset declarations, income sources or financial filings are covered by the records.
Reported controversial 2012 remarks, royal-interference allegations and repeated public party exits attract scrutiny.
Johor police confirmed an ongoing investigation against the former UMNO Supreme Council member following 153 police reports nationwide, conducted under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, Section 505(b) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.N11
Status: Reported as ongoing; the records show no charge, disposal or outcome.
The records establish a long-established senior figure: Senator, Batu Pahat MP, Deputy Minister of Education, JASA Director-General from 2015 to 2018, and Johor Assembly Speaker from 2022, with his electoral record confirmed by official results. The one live integrity matter in the records is an ongoing police investigation into his statements alleging royal interference in the dissolution of the Johor Assembly, opened after 153 reports under the Sedition Act, Penal Code and Communications and Multimedia Act; no charge or outcome is recorded. Reports of his departure from UMNO conflict on year and stated reason, and most biographical detail rests on a single source. Corporate, financial and asset areas are entirely uncovered, so the assessment is limited and enhanced due diligence is appropriate on the open investigation and on the uncovered financial position.
Public-record review · allegations ≠ findings · a charge is not a conviction · every point links to its source record (E official results, R reviewed records, N collected reports). Prepared by AI from the records on this page; not an analyst finding, and it can be wrong.
Specific pledges this politician made, and what credible reporting since says happened. The status is assessed by AI from the linked reports — each quoted passage is checked against its source. “Unclear” means no credible report of the outcome was found yet, not that the promise was broken.
No specific promises found in credible reporting yet.
According to Wikidata, Mohd Puad bin Zarkashi was born on 1957-07-07 in Johor.
“date of birth: 1957-07-07; place of birth: Johor”
According to Wikipedia, Mohd Puad Zarkashi served as a Senator from October 2004 to October 2007.
“Senator from October 2004 to October 2007”
According to Wikipedia, Mohd Puad Zarkashi served as Member of Parliament for Batu Pahat from March 2008 to May 2013.
“Member of Parliament (MP) for Batu Pahat from March 2008 to May 2013”
According to Wikipedia, Mohd Puad Zarkashi served as Deputy Minister of Education in the Barisan Nasional administration under Najib Razak and Muhyiddin Yassin from April 2009 to May 2013.
“He previously served as Deputy Minister of Education in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Minister Najib Razak and former Minister Muhyiddin Yassin from April 2009 to May 2013”
According to Wikipedia, Mohd Puad Zarkashi was appointed Director-General of the Special Affairs Department (JASA) in March 2015 and resigned on 25 April 2018 in protest at not being picked as a Barisan Nasional candidate for the 2018 general election.
“Puad was appointed JASA director-general in March 2015 but he quit on 25 April 2018 in protest for not being picked as a BN candidate for the 2018 general election.”
According to Wikipedia, Mohd Puad Zarkashi served as Speaker of the Johor State Legislative Assembly from April 2022 to July 2026.
“is a Malaysian politician who is the former Speaker of the Johor State Legislative Assembly from April 2022 to July 2026”
According to Wikipedia, Mohd Puad Zarkashi holds a Doctor of Philosophy conferred by the University of Hull.
“He holds a Doctor of Philosophy conferred by the University of Hull.”
According to Wikidata, Mohd Puad bin Zarkashi was a member of United Malays National Organisation.
“member of political party: United Malays National Organisation”
Arrests, charges, convictions, sentences, acquittals and pardons as reported by credible sources. Each item is marked with its stage — a charge is not a conviction — and outcomes are listed where reported.
Sinar Harian reported that Johor police confirmed an investigation against former UMNO Supreme Council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi is ongoing, following 153 police reports received nationwide over his statements alleging royal interference in the dissolution of the Johor state assembly, with the probe conducted under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
“Polis Johor mengesahkan siasatan terhadap bekas Ahli Majlis Kerja Tertinggi (MKT) UMNO, Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, susulan beberapa laporan polis yang dibuat terhadapnya, masih diteruskan.”
Allegations and investigations as reported by credible outlets. An allegation is not a finding; read each with its stage and source.
According to Wikipedia, in September 2012 Mohd Puad Zarkashi stated that homosexuals could be identified by characteristics such as wearing "V-Neck and sleeveless clothing" or preferring "tight and light-colored clothing", and that such behaviours were "symptoms" to be disciplined to turn straight "like it's a disease which can be cured".
“In September 2012, Puad stated his belief that homosexuals could be identified through various means including the use of "V-Neck and sleeveless clothing" as well as a person's personal preference for "tight and light-colored clothing". He stated that these characteristics were "symptoms" which would allow parents to spot whether or not their son may be a homosexual, supporting the need to discipline them into turning straight "like it's a disease which can be cured"”
Sinar Harian reported that Mohd Puad Zarkashi called for an immediate investigation into the truth of the 'Mafia Korporat' video allegations linked to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), and proposed a total reform of MACC if the allegations are proven true.
“Kena siasat segera kebenarannya, kalau benar buat permbersihan total terhadap SPRM.”
The Vibes reported that Mohd Puad Zarkashi said PAS would defend Wawasan as it had defended Bersatu in the early days of Perikatan Nasional and would not allow Barisan Nasional to become dominant.
“PAS will certainly defend Wawasan, just as it defended Bersatu in the early days of PN. PAS will not allow BN to become dominant," he said.”
Utusan Malaysia reported that Mohd Puad bin Zarkashi said BN-Pas cooperation does not guarantee political stability for Malays and the country, and that Zahid may not become prime minister because Pas has other plans and is not prepared to be forced onto the same stage as UMNO.
““Sebab itu kerjasama BN-Pas belum menjamin kestabilan politik Melayu dan negara. Dan belum tentu Zahid boleh jadi Perdana Menteri. Pas ada perancangan lain. Pas belum sedia dipaksa naik satu pentas dengan UMNO,” katanya menerusi Facebook hari ini.”
Utusan Malaysia reported that Mohd Puad bin Zarkashi said Barisan Nasional's decision to place a candidate in the Sungai Udang state legislative assembly seat proves the party rejects Wawasan and signals BN will field candidates in all 19 Wawasan-held parliamentary seats in the 16th general election.
““Tindakan BN meletakkan calon di Sungai Udang membuktikan BN menolak Wawasan. Itu juga signal iaitu di PRU ke-16 nanti BN akan letak calon di kesemua 19 kerusi Parlimen milik Wawasan.”
Astro Awani reported that Mohd Puad Zarkashi, Speaker of the Johor State Assembly (DUN Johor), confirmed he will not defend the Rengit state seat in the Johor state election scheduled for 11 July, citing his age of 69 as the main factor.
“Usia adalah faktor utama. Saya sudah berusia 69 tahun. Kalau lima tahun lagi, saya akan berumur 74 tahun. Pada saya, tidak sesuai pada usia itu untuk bertanding lagi di kerusi DUN”
Astro Awani reported that Mohd Puad Zarkashi publicly declared support for Pakatan Harapan candidate Mohamad Yazid Bakri for the DUN Rengit seat in the Johor state election, citing personal rather than party grounds.
“"Sekarang saya tidak berparti. Saya pilih calon kerana peribadi calon. Justeru saya pilih saudara Yazid kerana...," katanya.”
Sinar Harian reported that Mohd Puad Zarkashi announced his immediate departure from UMNO on 25 June, stating that UMNO could no longer make decisions independently and alleging that Johor UMNO was controlled by the palace in its decision-making.
“Bekas Speaker DUN Johor itu dilaporkan berkata, pengundurannya dibuat kerana UMNO tidak lagi bebas membuat keputusan dan mendakwa UMNO Johor dikawal oleh istana dalam membuat keputusan.”
The Vibes reported that Mohd Puad Zarkashi announced his immediate resignation from UMNO with effect from 25 June 2026, stating the move would allow him to openly criticise the party without being accused of undermining it from within.
“Without hesitation, I announce my resignation from UMNO with immediate effect from today, 25 June 2026. Therefore, UMNO no longer needs to go through the trouble of expelling me. It also makes it easier for me to hold differing views without being accused of betraying the party.”
Utusan Malaysia reported that Mohd Puad bin Zarkashi is a former UMNO Working Committee member.
“Bekas Ahli Majlis Kerja Tertinggi (MKT) UMNO, Datuk Dr. Mohd Puad Zarkashi berkata”
Contested 3 elections, won 2.
| Election | Seat | Ticket | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johor state election 2022 | N25 Rengit | UMNO · BN | 7,903 48.9% | Won by 1,920 |
| GE13 (2013) | P150 Batu Pahat | UMNO · BN | 37,039 49.0% | 2nd of 2 |
| GE12 (2008) | P150 Batu Pahat | UMNO · BN | 32,593 62.4% | Won by 12,968 |
Official gazetted results via the Malaysian Election Corpus (grade A record).
Collected automatically from credible outlets and Wikipedia, then cross-checked: Verified items match the official record, Confirmed items were reported by two or more different outlets, and single-source items are one outlet’s report. Partisan and anonymous claims are never shown.