State polls: Noh expects 2008 political tsunami to hit Selangor

SELAYANG - Former Selangor Umno chairman Tan Sri Noh Omar expects Selangor to be hit by a political tsunami like what happened when the Barisan Nasional (BN) government lost to Pakatan Harapan (PH) in 2008.

Noh said that if the 2008 tsunami could change the BN government in Selangor, the same thing was expected to happen to the PH government in the state election on August 12.

“The Selangor political tsunami was extraordinary and in the 2004 GE (General Election) in Selangor, BN won 100 percent in 22 parliamentary seats, while the DUN (State Legislative Assembly) seats won 54 out of 56 seats except in Sungai Pinang and Sekinchan,” he said.

He said this while speaking during the ‘Program Jelajah Selangor Baharu Selayang’ at Simpang 4 Taman Selayang Mutiara-Kampung Bendahara here on Tuesday night.

However, Noh said the tsunami in 2008 caused a political shift in Selangor, where BN lose the state when it only won 20 seats.

“If the 2008 tsunami can change the BN government, I think the same tsunami will happen to change the PH government,” he said.

Noh said three groups in Umno were expected to support PN during the state polls this time.

He claimed that the first group consisted of those who did not support Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“I did not say this, but people from Umno met me.

“I have many friends from Umno, I tell them not to leave the party but the most important thing is to vote for PN,” he said.

Noh said the second group of Umno was members who were not satisfied with the party’s cooperation with PH and DAP.

He further said that the third group consisted of Umno members who supported former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“All three groups supported BN in the last GE15, and this time they are expected to support PN.

“In addition, BN component partners from MCA and MIC are also disappointed with their position in BN and (I) believe they are also with PN,” he said.

Noh said the last group from PH who used to support the party was not satisfied with the current stance of the party.

“This group used to support PH, but this time they told me they are not aligned when PH becomes friends with BN,” he said.