Mohd Puad Zarkashi

Mohd Puad Zarkashi (Jawi: فؤاد زرکشي) (born 7 July 1957) is a Malaysian politician who has served as Speaker of the Johor State Legislative Assembly since April 2022 and Member of the Johor State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Rengit since March 2022. He 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, Member of Parliament (MP) for Batu Pahat from March 2008 to May 2013, Senator from October 2004 to October 2007 and Director-General of Special Affairs Department (JASA) from March 2015 to his resignation in April 2018. He is a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the ruling BN coalition. He is also Member of the Supreme Council of UMNO. He is a regarded as a vocal supporter of Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former Prime Minister Najib Razak as well as critic of Perikatan Nasional (PN).