JOHOR BARU: The son of former Umno supreme council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, Omar Hafidz expressed his disappointment after claiming to have been labelled a 'spy'.
He said he was called such by some party members while he was helping out the Barisan Nasional machinery during the state election campaign in Johor.
Omar said the act of questioning someone's loyalty while labelling them as enemies or 'spies' is making it hard to attract more youth to join Umno.
"My father (Mohd Puad Zarkashi) once gave me a brief lecture... It is not the job of a preacher to punish, but to invite.
"I believe the same principle should also be practised in politics," he said in a Facebook post on Monday (July 6).
He said he respected his father's decision to leave Umno, but chose to remain a member as he has his own stance, principles and struggle.
Omar Hafidz said when he returned to Johor last Saturday (July 4) to help with the campaigns for the Barisan Senggarang candidate, a division committee member told him that his presence was causing trouble for the party.
"It is very disappointing. I came with the intention of helping the party, which I still consider to be my struggle," he said.
Omar Hafidz said he is not blaming the entire party for the actions of a few, saying that he still believes that many leaders and members are sincere and prioritise unity.
He hopes that party members will cease to punish or label someone before understanding the real situation, as such actions will ultimately hurt the party itself.
"I will not retaliate with hatred. I am still an Umno member. I still love Umno and I still hope that Umno will become a party that is more open, mature and able to embrace more young people, not keep them away because in the end.
"Frankly, I am afraid to go down to help with the campaign again because I am afraid of being punished and that I will be the reason why the candidate loses," he said.
