BATU PAHAT, April 28 — Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi said today he stopped from contesting as independent candidate for the Batu Pahat parliamentary seat after heeding the advice of the Johor Sultan, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar.

In a statement on his Facebook page, Puad who is also the Batu Pahat Umno division chief clarified that he pulled out from contesting the seat as a way of solidarity with the so-called "Bangsa Johor” — the term some Johoreans call themselves.

"As a ‘Bangsa Johor’, I finally decided not to contest after receiving the advice of His Royal Highness the Sultan of Johor.

"As a citizen of Johor who is loyal to his King, I heeded the advice of His Royal Highness as I’m confident that His Majesty gave the advice on the interest of ‘Bangsa Johor,” he said.

Earlier today, Puad had claimed that he did not to contest due to his daughter’s wedding taking place in Johor Baru today.

His division’s Wanita leader Harliza Abdullah submitted her nomination papers as Barisan Nasional’s (BN) pick for the Batu Pahat constituency.

Mohd Puad who was dropped in place of Haliza, had earlier dismissed claims by the party leadership that BN’s support here under him had diminished, insisting that it had improved.

On Thursday, he had quit his position as the Special Affairs Department (Jasa) chief, in what is seen as a response to Umno not selecting him to contest the Batu Pahat.