'Noh should have stayed in Umno and appealed his suspension'

Habibah Mohd Yusof, the BN candidate for Tanjong Karang who was allegedly sabotaged by Noh Omar during the recent general election, has expressed her regret over the recent political episode which saw the former Selangor Umno chief sacked from the party.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Habibah said she believed that Noh (above) should have chosen to remain in Umno and accepted its supreme council's decision to suspend him, instead of asking the leadership to boot him out.

"Personally, I really felt disappointed when he went this way (chose to be sacked from Umno).

"If he really loves the party, he should just accept the suspension (meted against Noh). And he could still appeal the decision later. It was not necessary for him to challenge (the party leadership)," she lamented.

Malaysiakini contacted Habibah to get her response to Umno supreme council's decision on Friday to sack Noh over disciplinary issues.

Among others, he was accused of sabotaging the party during the 15th general election and fielding a proxy to contest against Habibah as an independent candidate in Tanjong Karang, a charge which Noh denied earlier today.

Speaking about the sabotage allegation, Habibah said she was disappointed with what had happened throughout the GE15 campaign period.

According to the Tanjong Karang Wanita Umno chief, Noh had in many instances criticised the party and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in his speeches.

The former MP also did not introduce Habibah to supporters during the launching of Tanjong Karang BN election machinery on Nov 4, she said.

"It was disappointing to see all these things happen. I have watched many of his speeches on social media, some were also sent to me by my comrades at the party.

"He said he was a party loyalist, but he did all these. And the issue had eventually gone to the party leadership. I also do not know who lodged a report against him, but he has to answer for it," she said.

Party agenda more important

Adding further, Habibah said she could understand that Noh was upset about not being chosen by the party to defend his seat.

However, she added, he should accept the party's decision as the party agenda is more important.

"When I was chosen to run for the seat, I was merely an intermediary for the party. I contested under the party's banner.

"I am nobody. To me, the party is what is important, so we must be loyal to the party," she said.

Noh is a former Tanjong Karang MP and held the position for six consecutive terms until Umno decided to drop him and fielded Habibah instead.

She lost to Perikatan Nasional's Zulkafperi Hanapi in the election, making it the first time Umno lost the Tanjong Karang seat.

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