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Friday, August 22, 2014

We knew we couldn’t pull off a ‘Perak coup’ in Selangor, says Umno’s Noh Omar

'No matter what we could have done, we would have still remained the opposition,' says Selangor Umno liaison chief, Datuk Seri Noh Omar. – The Malaysian Insider pic, August 22, 2014.'No matter what we could have done, we would have still remained the opposition,' says Selangor Umno liaison chief, Datuk Seri Noh Omar. – The Malaysian Insider pic, August 22, 2014.
When Pakatan Rakyat (PR) risked breaking up over the Selangor menteri besar impasse, Selangor Barisan Nasional (BN) had little choice but to remain by-standers as it had too few seats in the state legislature to take the Selangor government under the ruling pact's squabbling feet.
Selangor Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Noh Omar told The Malaysian Insider the "Perak route" was not an option, referring to the 2009 constitutional crisis in that state when the PR state government fell after three assemblymen — two from PKR and one from DAP — left their respective parties to become BN-friendly independents.
“No matter what we could have done, we would have still remained the opposition. We are aware of our numbers. We have only 12 out of 56 assemblymen in the state government,” Noh said in an exclusive interview.
The Tanjong Karang MP pointed out that it would have been fruitless to attempt to sweet-talk PAS into joining hands with Umno, as the combined number of assemblymen was still not enough to form the majority in the assembly.
“This was not like in Perak 2009, where the difference between PR and BN assemblymen was minimal and BN was able to win the Perak government through the defections of just three PR representatives,” said Noh.
Besides, he said, BN was well aware that the protracted “drama” between the three parties in Selangor would not tear the pact apart, despite the ominous warnings from PR leaders that PAS may break away from the loose coalition.
“We knew this was their game. Why should we tread into their battlefield? Even if PAS or DAP became menteri besar, we would still be the opposition,” said Noh.
So, being unable to capitalise on the crisis unfolding before them to wrest the nation’s wealthiest state, BN focused on the less lofty goal of being “a good opposition”.
“All we can do is watch them, focus on being a good opposition and ensure the government remains stable.”
Some may interpret his statement as a sign of giving up, but Noh denied this and maintained that the best strategy any party in its position could have taken was to simply stay out of the fire.
He said BN was now focussed on regaining power in the state government through the ballot box, whether in the next general election or state polls.
Noh added that even their “unconditional support” for Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to remain as MB was not part of a strategy to grab more power in Selangor.
“We are supporting Khalid to stabilise the government, to protect the rakyat’s interest. He was the one who signed the water deal with the federal government to end water shortage. We want that to go on.
“We are supporting him not because we want to take over the government. That just wouldn’t happen.”
Noh said that even if Khalid offered BN assemblymen positions in the state executive council, they would not accept it as it would mean compromising on their own ideology to work with the existing four PAS executive councillors.
“Umno will not dance to PR’s tune. We will not be dragged into their domestic affairs.”
But Noh refused to comment on the party’s preparations for a possible snap election, saying that they did not wish to jump the gun and would await the Sultan’s decision.
The Selangor Sultan is expected to return from overseas tomorrow (August 23), and how the state government crisis plays out will depend on his decision.
Last Sunday, PR had proposed PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as a replacement for Khalid, who was sacked from PKR on August 9.
Khalid had immediately requested an audience with the Sultan on the matter, but His Royal Highness ordered him not to make any decision or announcement until his return.
On August 11, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah consented to Khalid staying on as MB after the latter convinced him he still maintained the majority support of the assemblymen.
Khalid remains an independent MB for now, and runs the state government with four PAS state executive councillors, having sacked six PKR and DAP councillors on August 12.
- TMI

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