Formation of new party will not affect UMNO's strength - Noh Omar

The formation of a new political party in the country should be done with strong principles and objectives to ensure social justice and fairness for the race and religion, UMNO Supreme Council member Tan Sri Noh Omar said.

He said this was because a party formed merely to support and protect the interests of a particular leader would not last long.

"If the party was formed just to topple the prime minister, what kind of struggle would that be? They should just wait for the general election," he told reporters after opening the Sik Wanita UMNO Division delegates' meeting here today.

He said this in response to the proposed formation of a new party by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and several sacked UMNO leaders, including Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.

Tan Sri Noh, who is also Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister, said the formation of the new party would not, in any way, affect UMNO's strength, but it was equally important that UMNO members give their undivided support to the party president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

"Our strength should not depend on the (weaknesses of the) opposition. Although they may have many problems, we cannot use that as our strengths.

"Instead, we have to built our own strengths. And if the opposition became disunited, that's a bonus for us," he said.