Umno has been cautioned against embracing former Selangor strongman Noh Omar too quickly, with political analysts warning that his return could be driven more by electoral ambitions than party loyalty.
Political scientist Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid said Noh’s decision to rejoin Umno may be linked to his desire to contest under the party’s banner in the next general election (GE16).
Fauzi also questioned Noh’s explanation that he was persuaded to return because of Umno’s recent anti-DAP stance in Johor, describing the reasoning as unconvincing given the party’s continued cooperation with DAP through the unity government.
He pointed out that Noh comes from Selangor, where the alliance between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan, including DAP, remains intact. According to Fauzi, Johor Umno’s criticism of DAP could simply be an election strategy aimed at attracting conservative Malay voters ahead of the state polls.
Meanwhile, political analyst Syaza Shukri said Umno could easily defend its partnership with Pakatan Harapan as a practical move necessary for political stability and survival.
She also questioned Noh’s commitment to the party, noting that he left Umno following its worst-ever electoral performance in the 2022 general election before joining Bersatu, only to leave that party after it faced internal turmoil.
While acknowledging that Noh brings decades of political experience and grassroots influence, Syaza warned that Umno should be careful about relying on the old-style warlord politics he represents.
She argued that modern elections are increasingly shaped by social media, national narratives and public sentiment rather than traditional political machinery alone.
Fauzi further described Noh as a potentially unpredictable figure, citing several controversial statements he had made in the past, including remarks suggesting that stealing was only wrong if one was caught.
He also highlighted Noh’s vocal criticism of Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi after GE15, when he called for Zahid to resign after being dropped as a candidate.
According to Fauzi, Umno should think carefully before giving Noh a prominent role in future election campaigns, warning that unexpected remarks could damage the party’s prospects, particularly in multicultural states such as Selangor.
Noh was expelled from Umno in January 2023 for breaching party discipline during GE15. He later joined Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia in July 2024 and was appointed to its Supreme Council in early 2025.
However, he resigned from the position in February this year following the dismissal of 17 Bersatu leaders, including Hamzah Zainudin. Unlike several other party figures aligned with Hamzah, Noh chose not to participate in the Reset movement launched after the sackings.
On June 7, Noh announced that he had officially left Bersatu and returned to Umno through a special initiative aimed at welcoming back former members.
Syaza suggested that Noh’s return could be seen as an acknowledgement that Zahid’s strategy of keeping Umno in government and working alongside DAP was ultimately the correct political decision.
She added that it is unlikely Noh would now push Umno to withdraw support for the unity government, especially when the party remains firmly entrenched in federal power and the possibility of an early general election continues to be discussed.
