KUALA LUMPUR – Umno is just making a “show” of its concern over a purported addendum order for Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s house arrest, new Bersatu member Tan Sri Noh Omar said.
The sacked Umno leader said this in response to party supreme council member Datuk Puad Zarkashi, who criticised him for claiming disappointment over Najib’s failed bid at the high court against the government to implement his house arrest.
Noh said Puad had “forgotten” that the Umno Supreme Council had made decisions to continue demanding for Najib’s house arrest, but has yet to act on them.
“Where is the movement that is supposed to collect signatures in support of Najib’s house arrest and hand them to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong? Have you forgotten, Puad?
“The supreme council also decided that the Umno leadership should seek an audience with the king for Bossku’s release (to house arrest),” Noh said on Facebook.
The former Tanjong Karang MP also asked Puad if he ever told the supreme council that Umno should instead seek a meeting with the prime minister and the Pardons Board over the addendum order’s existence.
“The supreme council’s decisions are a ‘wayang’ (for show), Puad said.
Noh, who was sacked from Umno in January 2023, joined Bersatu recently without much fanfare after filling out a membership form online. He cited his disappointment over the treatment of former prime minister Najib’s pursuit of house arrest as a reason for joining Bersatu
To Puad’s criticism that he was “low-class” for using Najib as a reason, Noh said he had already been sacked from Umno and was “free” to join another party.
“When did I ever party-hop? I am no longer an Umno member. And I did not join any party on Najib’s advice. Whenever I met him in court, he told me to be patient.
“I am therefore free to choose any party,” Noh said, adding that he chose Bersatu because its struggle for the Malays was similar to Umno’s “original” path.
“Umno now has become UmDap,” Noh said, referring to the Barisan Nasional party’s alliance with former rival DAP in the unity government.
Noh also said Umno had proved disappointing in the way it dealt with Najib’s addendum order issue.
“It’s impossible that Umno ministers don’t know if the addendum order exists or not,” he said.
Noh was sacked from Umno after going against president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Prior to his sacking, the party leadership decided to suspend his membership for six years. – July 6, 2024