IT is a dilemma for Tanjong Karang voters – to back former lawmaker Noh Omar or go with Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno.

Voters are mulling their options as talk continues that the former housing and local government minister is set to contest a state seat in his former parliamentary constituency for Perikatan Nasional (PN).

Voters now have to choose between the party that got rid of Noh, or sympathise with the ex-lawmaker who has helped them for almost 30 years.

A recent visit by The Malaysian Insight to the constituency found voters thought they would benefit if they went with BN as it is part of the unity government.

Selangor is among six states set to call polls after June. The other five are Negri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.

Umno leader Jaafar Tormon said Noh’s influence is strong in the constituency and many from BN will be drawn to him.

“I am a member of Umno, from before until now, and even though Umno is in chaos I am still an Umno voter.

“But Noh’s influence is still strong. If he moves to PN, PN can get the votes of (former Umno) members,” he said.

The 62-year-old government retiree said voters appreciate Noh’s services, particularly his donations in the run-up to festivals and for disaster aid.

“Before Raya, residents would get chickens and eggs, but after this GE (general election) they didn’t get anything. Every year there are usually at least two chickens,” he said.

BN lost the seat for the first time after Noh was dropped as a candidate and replaced by the Umno women’s head Habibah Mohd Yusof.

PN won the seat through Zulkafperi Hanafi, who is also Tanjong Karang Bersatu head, with a majority of 2,100 votes.

Zulkafperi got about 18,000 votes by defeating Habibah, who garnered over 15,800 votes, and Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Siti Rahayu Baharin, who got 12,314 votes.

BN and PH, which are federal partners, are in talks to ensure a one-on-one match against PN in the state polls.

Noh was initially suspended from Umno for six years after the last general election when he sided with a pro-PN group from Umno.

However, he asked to be fired, and Umno granted his wish on January 27.

Noh was fired along with former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin for breaching the party’s code.

After the dismissal, the former cabinet member loudly criticised Umno and vowed to make Tanjong Karang a PN stronghold.

Noh has flip-flopped on whether he would be contesting a state seat after initially saying he would, but subsequently U-turned on the statement, saying it is up to the PN leadership.

“As I am still without a party, it is incorrect to say I will be standing as a candidate in the coming polls,” he said in a video uploaded to social media.

But his supporters leave no doubt to whom their vote will go if Noh runs a tilt.

Among them, an Umno member who only wanted to be known as Hana, 54, said she voted for PN as a sign of protest after Noh was dropped.

Hana said she was upset with Umno leaders who acted as they pleased by firing leaders who disagreed with them.

“My last vote was not because I supported PN, but because Noh was not nominated.

“For the state elections this time, the momentum remains the same. If Noh supports PN, we will follow him,” she said.

She said she chose to back Noh because the latter is loyal to the people in Tanjong Karang and he still attends local events, even without an official position.

However, such sentiments towards Noh are considered over-the-top by some PN supporters, such as one voter, 56, who only wanted to be known as Kanang.

Kanang said sentimentality should not be a criterion in voting.

“Now is the time for young people to decide their future,” said Kanang.

“Why do you want to be afraid of change? People are fed up with BN, and the momentum of PN is still there. People just want to change,” he said.

He said infrastructure development in Tanjong Karang, especially for hospitals, is the responsibility of governments, not individuals.

Noh is promoting his daughter Nurul Syazwani, who was named Permatang PN candidate, one of the two state seats in Tanjong Karang.

PN also named Tanjong Karang PAS chairman Mohd Zamri Mohd Zainuldin Sungai Burung candidate – the other state seat in the constituency. – May 21, 2023.