MN appointment not about standing in elections, says Noh Omar

June 24, 2024

MN appointment not about standing in elections, says Noh Omar

PETALING JAYA: Former Selangor Umno chief Noh Omar has rejected the notion that his appointment as Muafakat Nasional (MN) deputy president is a stepping stone for him to become an election candidate under Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the future.

Noh said he remains independent of any party and stressed that he joined MN only because he believes the NGO will unite Malays and Malaysians.

“This has nothing to do with elections. I am independent. I don’t have to join MN to be a candidate,” he told FMT.

He was responding to political analyst Awang Azman Pawi’s comments that his appointment in MN could be to prepare him to stand in a by-election on a PN ticket should a parliamentary seat be vacated.

The Universiti Malaya academic also said the move could be seen as PN and MN preparing to put Noh forward as a voice on current issues, to gain support, and to “attack Umno” if a by-election takes place.

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According to Awang, the strategy by PN and MN could be to use former Umno leaders to weaken the party.

MN is a society formed after the collapse in 2022 of a similarly named political alliance between Umno and PAS.

MN president Annuar Musa, who joined PAS after being sacked by Umno in December 2022, said Noh’s appointment was to strengthen the organisation at central and state levels.

Noh, who was sacked by Umno last year for violating party discipline during the 2022 general election, said he joined MN because of its more open membership, comprising people from various backgrounds and political parties.