Selangor BN chief Noh Omar is not a threat to Pakatan Harapan as he is like a yo-yo who has been falling in and out of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s favour, claimed a PKR lawmaker.

Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin, who is also PKR Selangor vice-chief, said this in response to Najib’s announcement of Noh’s return to the cabinet as Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister.

Zuraida pointed out that Noh was a minister in 2008 when BN lost the state in the 12th general election.

“Since 2008, BN had tried every gimmick to capture Selangor and Noh was also a minister then.

“They will die trying with or without Noh, no matter what may come,” she told Malaysiakini.

Noh was previously left out of Najib’s cabinet in 2013 after the then Pakatan Rakyat federal opposition pact retained Selangor with a bigger majority in the 13th general election.

Despite noting that the Tanjung Karang MP may be brought back as part of Najib’s plans to reclaim Selangor, Zuraida said PKR and Pakatan Harapan remain unfazed.

“Selangor is now our stronghold and we are confident in our political and administrative abilty to hold the support of Selangorians in the coming 14th general elections,” she said.

DAP Selangor vice-secretary Ng Suee Lim also said Harapan will be more confident to face Noh (photo) in GE14 as his track record is allegedly marred with controversies.

“The people of Selangor are very familiar with the true character of Noh,” said the Sekinchan assemblyperson who in 2012 had implicated Noh in a scandal involving a prawn farm.

This was during Noh’s tenure as agriculture minister.

At the same time, Ng noted that Najib appeared to favour unwavering loyalty above all other factors in appointing Noh over other younger MPs in Selangor, including the new Sungai Besar MP Budiman Mohamad Zohdi.

Appointment based on loyalty

Parti Amanah Negara communications director Khalid Samad concurred with Ng, saying that he believes Noh’s appointment was partly a reward for his role as BN’s Sungai Besar election director, as well as to carry the momentum for GE14.

“Najib will appoint based on loyalty, never on achievements.

“There is no reason to be more worried than what we already are,” said the Shah Alam MP.

Khalid added that for Amanah, PAS is a bigger worry than BN and their ministers as the Islamist party had purportedly been successfully used to split the opposition.

Selangor PAS chief Iskandar Abdul Samad, meanwhile, noted that Najib would only appoint his trusted men to his cabinet in the latest reshuffle.

He also said that appointments in have never been based on talents but more on who is more trusted and loyal to the PM.

“But my advice to him would be to focus on the needs of the people. Don’t play politics.

“If we carry out our duties well, the rakyat will choose us. There is no need to politicise the welfare of the people,” he said.

In responding to his appointment, Noh had reiterated his vow to recapture Selangor from the opposition.