Azmin, Noh likely to butt heads in Selangor Bersatu, say PKR leaders

 

Noh Omar (left) and Azmin Ali, once adversaries when they were in Umno and PKR respectively, are now both in Selangor Bersatu.

PETALING JAYA: The entry of former Selangor Umno chief Noh Omar into Bersatu is expected to cause a rift within Selangor Bersatu, which is led by a former menteri besar, Azmin Ali.

Selangor PKR secretary Khairuddin Othman said a clash was likely to develop between Noh and Azmin, which would impact Perikatan Nasional.

“Noh’s admission (into Bersatu) will cause division within PN and lead to internal conflicts,” he said. “Noh and Azmin are bound to clash with each other, while PAS will always be a ‘yes man’ to Bersatu,” he said.

He said Noh probably joined Bersatu out of sympathy for former prime minister Najib Razak, who failed to obtain a judicial review to compel the production of a purported order to allow him to serve the remainder of his jail term under house arrest.

“Since Najib’s appeal was unsuccessful, I decided to apply online to join Bersatu,” said Noh, who had served as a minister in Najib’s government, as well as that of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Noh was expelled from Umno last year for reportedly sabotaging the party. A six-term MP for Tanjong Karang, he was dropped as a Barisan Nasional candidate for the 2022 general election to make way for Tanjong Karang Wanita Umno chief Habibah Yusof. She lost to PN’s Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi.

Selangor Umno secretary Abdul Mutalif Rahim, however, said Noh’s excuse for joining Bersatu did not make sense.

“He once said he wanted to focus on legal practice, so after getting back his lawyer’s licence, why didn’t he help Najib (in the court trial) pro bono?” he said.

He also suggested that Noh could be hoping to be considered as a candidate in Tanjong Karang should a by-election be called, after Zulkafperi ceased to be a member of Bersatu for declaring support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Selangor Amanah communications director Abbas Azmi said that Noh’s admission into Bersatu would further increase discontent among Selangor PN’s component parties. “I think Selangor PAS would be disappointed because Noh didn’t join them instead,” he said. - FMT