KUALA LUMPUR – Former Umno warlord Tan Sri Noh Omar’s much-talked about Bersatu membership does not come with any position, much less one powerful enough to challenge Selangor chief Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, said the party’s information chief.
Datuk Razali Idris told Scoop that speculations of a showdown are just attempts by Umno leaders to fan the flames.
“Even if Noh Omar wants to run for a party position, what’s it to Umno? Instead he just joined Bersatu and he needs to fulfil certain terms before he can contest.
“His daughter (Nurul Syazwani) is already heading the Tanjong Karang division (after Datuk Zulkafperi Hanapi was sacked).
“No issue Noh Omar joining Bersatu, it’s just Umno running scared. He is someone without controversies… just sacked from Umno.”
According to Bersatu’s constitution, one has to be a party member for 1 to 3 years before being allowed to run for internal polls.
Noh served as Tanjong Karang MP for 27 years until the 2022 general election when he was not picked to defend his seat. This later led to him being expelled from Umno on January 27 last year.
Bersatu is heading into its internal polls in October. While president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is uncontested, other positions remain open.
As for Zulkafperi, along with five others, Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), and Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), they were fired from Bersatu after declaring support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration.
They argue that they were sacked and did not leave the party, which did not violate the anti-hopping law.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul is expected to announce his decision on whether their seats will be vacated next week. – July 7, 2024