'Independent' Noh willing to speak at PN, Umno ceramah during state polls

 

Going ahead with his plan to become an independent political speaker, sacked Umno leader Noh Omar yesterday said he is open to telling "the truth" at ceramah during the upcoming Selangor state polls.

Noh expressed his readiness to speak on any platform offered to him, including for Perikatan Nasional component parties and even Umno, should his old party send him an invite.

"I am still thinking," the politician said when asked about his future plans.

"I have said that I am taking a break for now, but I can confirm I will be an independent speaker. So, if anyone wants to invite me to speak at the upcoming state polls or even now, if Bersatu wants to invite me, I will speak on their stage.

"If PAS invites me I would also go. Even Umno, if they are willing to invite me, I have no problem. But wherever I go to speak, I will tell the truth of what happened," he added.

Noh told reporters this after attending an appreciation event for him organised by Tanjong Karang Umno Veterans Secretariat.

On Jan 27, the former Selangor Umno chief was sacked from the party. Noh was initially suspended for six years for allegedly violating Umno's discipline, but was given the boot after asking for the party to dismiss him instead.

Following this, Noh reportedly said he was waiting for "the best offer".

‘Umno won’t win Selangor’

During the presser, Noh said he expected Umno to face an uphill battle in Selangor during the state polls, especially with the party facing Bersatu and PAS.

The former Tanjong Karang MP pointed out that in the recent general election Umno could not defend its parliamentary seats even in constituencies which used to be the party's stronghold.

With Umno now working together with DAP, he claimed it would be harder as many Malays would shift their support to PN.

"Now I see that many who previously voted for Umno... after seeing Umno and BN becoming friends with DAP, they said they regret giving their support to the party," Noh said.

He said if Umno were to ally itself with Bersatu and PAS under the now-defunct Muafakat Nasional banner, they would have won at least 10 parliamentary seats in the general election.

Umno could have won in Sungai Buloh, Kuala Selangor and Hulu Langat if their candidates did not have to fight against PAS and Bersatu, he added.

The three seats were won by Pakatan Harapan.

"I have done my calculation, at least in Selangor, it would be hard for us to win if we have a three-cornered fight. The number of Malay and non-Malay voters are about the same in these seats, so if Malay parties are divided, surely we would lose," he said.

Muafakat was a political pact started by Umno and PAS before Bersatu was invited to come on board.

However, it fell apart mainly due to political animosity between Umno and Bersatu, which saw Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi steering the party away and ended up with PAS allying with Bersatu.

Despite this, there were leaders within Umno who still favoured Muafakat. - Mkini