Noh Omar: I still love Umno even though I was sacked

Photo: Bernama

KLANG: Sacked Umno veteran Tan Sri Noh Omar still loves the party even though he is no longer a member.

Given this, Noh said he would only speak of his recent experience and would not in any way slam the party which had done so much for him.

ALSO READ: Noh Omar: I've been sacked from Umno

Noh, the former Selangor Umno chief, said this in a live interview with Sinar Harian.

"It is because of Umno that a kampung boy like me could go to England to read law and become a lawyer," said Noh.

Noh had initially been suspended but had asked to be sacked instead during the party’s supreme council meeting on Friday (Jan 27).

To a question by host Hazwan Mokhtar, as to why he had asked to be sacked when he was merely suspended, the former Tanjong Karang MP said: "I was suspended for six years and in that duration, there would be two party supreme council elections as well as the 16th General Election.

ALSO READ: KJ and Noh Omar sacked - Others suspended as Umno undergoes a ‘mass cleansing’

"How can I just be a mere spectator, so it's best to just sack me.”

He said sacking of members was common in political parties and leaders had been sacked in Umno as well as other parties in the past.

However, it must be done in accordance with the party constitution and rules, which were not applied in his matter, he said.

Noh added he was issued with a show cause letter which outlined three accusations and he was prepared to defend himself before the party’s disciplinary board at 2.30pm on Monday (Jan 30).

ALSO READ: Umno purge: Selangor leaders stay mum over Noh Omar's sacking

"But the decision was already made three days ago (last Friday night) instead," he said.

He said party leaders could be sacked without the matter being brought to the disciplinary board, but in such cases, the matter must be openly discussed at the supreme council.

Noh added everyone in the council would have a say and if a unanimous decision cannot be arrived at, balloting would be carried out to seek a majority decision.

"The decision to sack me was made without adhering to the procedure and six people (members of the supreme council) had questioned it," said Noh.

Noh added he was also gravely worried that Umno would be fully helmed by “yes men” which would weaken the once dominant party like what had happened to India’s Congress Party and Indonesia’s Golkar Party.