GE14 | Special Affairs Department (Jasa) director-general Mohd Puad Zarkashi (above), who was not fielded as a BN candidate in Johor for GE14 despite being one of Umno president Najib Abdul Razak’s staunchest defenders, has said that he will remain strong.

“Even though I was not re-nominated today, I am staying strong and went to 15 schools to present RM6,000 in funds to their Kelab Bilik Guru,” he said in a brief posting on his Facebook page today.

It was his first public statement since the Johor BN candidates were announced earlier today.

Earlier attempts by Malaysiakini to contact him for a response to being dropped as a candidate in Johor had been unsuccessful.

The Umno supreme council member had been widely speculated to be nominated for the Batu Pahat parliamentary seat. He is the Batu Pahat Umno division chief.

Instead, BN will field Batu Pahat Wanita Umno division head Haliza Abdullah - a first-time candidate – there.

It is also reported that there is speculation among locals that Puad may consider becoming an independent candidate for Batu Pahat and the Senggarang state seat.

As BN's propaganda chief, Puad has been one of the most vocal defenders of caretaker prime minister Najib and the ruling party.

He has repeatedly defended the controversial 1MDB as well as hitting out against the opposition.