A PKR leader has dismissed as mere “coffee shop talk” a remark by Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi that it is not impossible for Umno to become dominant in Selangor.
PKR Youth deputy chief Izuan Kasim told FMT that by the same logic, PKR could also become the dominant party in Johor and Melaka.
“Statements like this really don’t need to be made publicly. It’s fine for casual chats with friends at a coffee shop, but there’s no need to make such remarks officially.
“Especially since he’s not a low-ranking leader – he holds a top position. Sometimes what he says doesn’t reflect the direction taken by his party president,” said Izuan, who is also the Kota Damansara assemblyman.
Yesterday, Puad took a jab at Khir Toyo’s move to join Bersatu, blaming the former Selangor menteri besar for Umno’s loss of power in the state – a loss that persists to this day.
When explaining his decision to join Bersatu, Khir claimed that Umno had lost all ambition to lead the government, whether at the federal level or in Selangor.
He said Umno had become merely a supplementary party, lacking the ambition to return to power.
Khir, a former Umno Supreme Council member, also believes that the party would not be allocated enough parliamentary seats in the next general election.
In response, Puad argued that politics today required wisdom and trust, and that Umno’s return to dominance was not far-fetched.
He said that if Umno could lead in Perak and Pahang with fewer seats, it is certainly possible in Selangor too.
Izuan, however, warned that such statements could make it more difficult for Umno heading into the next general election, especially since such decisions were not made by the top leadership.
He added that, unlike Umno, PKR was more flexible and capable of making collective decisions, drawing from its past coalitions like Pakatan Rakyat, Pakatan Harapan, and now the unity government.
“We (PKR) are sincere in how we operate. But really, his (Puad’s) remarks were unnecessary. There’s no need to paint such a picture – he should just go enjoy his breakfast quietly,” Izuan quipped.
Meanwhile, PKR central leadership council member G Gunarajah said Puad’s comments should be made more carefully, especially in the current context where Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim leads a unity government.
He said the unity government – which has restored political stability and investor confidence – was not built on party dominance, but on shared responsibility.
“The same applies in Selangor. Under (menteri besar) Amirudin Shari, the state administration has shown consistent and progressive achievements, and enjoys strong support across communities.
“If you want to show strength, do it by serving the people, not by trying to dominate your partners. Dominance doesn’t need to be declared – let the people judge us by our performance and sincerity.”
