UMNO had sufficient evidence to take disciplinary action against party veteran Noh Omar for 16 acts of sabotage during the general election (GE15), new Selangor chief Megat Zulkarnain Omardin said.

“The decision to suspend him (for six years) was for 16 charges sabotaging the party during the general election, not because he disagreed with the motion (to skip customary elections for president and deputy president) in the recent Umno General Assembly.

“As far as we know, Habibah Mohd Yusof was nominated to stand for the Tanjong Karang parliamentary seat, but an opposing independent candidate was Noh’s special officer. 

“The allegations were reviewed, studied, investigated and proven by the disciplinary committee,” Megat said to reporters late last night after the Umno Supreme Council meeting.

It was reported that Noh was initially suspended for six years but the former Tanjong Karang MP had asked to be sacked, to which the party agreed.

Megat claimed Noh could still appeal the decision if he wished. 

Megat claimed that the process was according to party procedures. 

“The process had taken place and there was strong evidence (of sabotage),” Megat said. 

Megat added that Noh was given “several” chances to explain himself but refused and insisted on his expulsion.

Noh was the Tanjong Karang MP from 1995 until he was dropped from the candidate list last year.

Yesterday, Umno kicked out several leaders and suspended others, as the party cleaned house.

Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin was one of the casualties. 

Besides Khairy and Noh, 42 other party members were also expelled – nine from the Putrajaya division, five from the Pasir Gudang division, two from the Tanjung Karang division, and 26 from Pahang.

Those given a six-year suspension were former vice president Hishammuddin Hussein, former information chief Shahril Sufian Hamdan, Tebrau division chief Maulizan Bujang, and former Jempol MP Mohd Salim Shariff.

Former Johor menteri besar and Umno vice president Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the expulsions and suspensions were carried out according to the recommendation of the disciplinary committee.

Umno is punishing errant members not toeing the line, as president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi purges the party of dissenters to his leadership. – January 28, 2023.