Isa can win Bagan Pinang battle but not war, says Guan Eng
Written by Teoh Eng Sim, The Edge
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng on Sept 27 said Barisan Nasional’s (BN) chances in the upcoming Bagan Pinang by-election would be higher if it fielded former Negri Sembilan menteri besar Tan Sri Isa Samad but this would not augur well for Umno and BN.
Speaking to reporters after DAP’s Aidilfitri open house in Cheras, Lim said: “I’ll be frank. BN’s chances are better than ours (Pakatan Rakyat), about 60-40. If they put Isa, then the chances go up to 70-30. Isa is strong in Bagan Pinang.”
Isa has been touted as a favourite to contest the Bagan Pinang seat as he was Negri Sembilan menteri besar for over 20 years and leads the Teluk Kemang Umno division, the parliamentary constituency which Bagan Pinang was located within.
Lim, who is Penang chief minister, agreed with former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed’s views that Umno’s image would be tarnished if it chose Isa as a candidate because Isa was previously found guilty by Umno for money politics during the 2004 Umno elections.
“As Dr Mahathir said, if they (Umno) put Isa they will sure win Bagan Pinang but it will bring negative implications to Umno and BN. You can win the battle but (may) lose the war,” Lim said.
Dr Mahathir had spoken out against Isa’s potential candidacy, arguing that the move would affect public perception on Umno’s stand on corruption.
Lim also said that Umno president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak would have to do “a lot of political chess playing” in deciding on the party’s Bagan Pinang candidate.
Umno deputy president and deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is expected to announce Umno’s candidate on Sept 29.
Nomination for the Bagan Pinang by-election has been fixed for Oct 3 and polling on Oct 11. The state seat fell vacant following the death of its Umno incumbent Azman Mohammad Noor on Sept 4.
Asked if the controversy surrounding Selangor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Hasan Mohamed Ali would affect Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) chances in the Bagan Pinang by-election, Lim said he would “let PAS deal with it” as PR would field a PAS candidate for the upcoming contest.
Hasan, who is Selangor state executive council member, sparked criticism from several PR leaders after he slammed the Selangor state assembly’s Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency’s (Selcat) “grilling” of district officers in its ongoing public inquiry into state allocation spending.
Hasan had also stirred controversy when he backed a proposal for a blanket ban on alcohol sales in Muslim-majority areas in Selangor.
Lim described as “normal” the relationship among PR component parties and its top leadership, quashing speculation that Hasan’s public statements had caused a strain among PAS, DAP and PKR.
“But certain PAS leaders and PR leaders are subject to increasing press attention… I’m sure you know who I am referring to,” Lim said.
