Bagan Pinang: Isa to run for Barisan (Updated)

(The Star) – The Barisan Nasional will field former Negri Sembilan mentri besar Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad as its candidate in the Oct 11 Bagan Pinang by-election in Negeri Sembilan.

Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, in announcing the decision on Tuesday, said Isa was chosen after a detailed study with the constituents showed that this is what the people of Bagan Pinang wanted.

Muhyiddin said that Isa had also continued to work for Barisan.

The choice however is sure to rile some feathers within the coalition.

Umno had suspended Isa, 59, from his post as party vice-president after its disciplinary committee found him guilty of money politics or vote-buying during the party polls.

Former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and others have argued strongly for the party to choose a blemish-free candidate.

“I will continue to serve as I have for the last 30 years,” said Isa, who was mentri besar for 25 years.

“Let us work together not only to win the seat, but to do so with an increased majority,” he said after the announcement.

The by-election is being held due to the death of assemblyman Azman Mohammad Noor of Barisan on Sept 4. Nomination day is on Oct 4.

In IPOH, the newly-formed Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party said it will campaign for the Barisan Nasional candidate in the Bagan Pinang by-election.

Its deputy president A. Vathemurthy said the party would work hand-in-hand with Barisan towards realising the 1Malaysia concept.

“Indians need assistance from the Government and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has promised to look into the major problems faced by the Indian community,” he said in press statement on Tuesday.

Najib has agreed to officially launch the party on Oct 10, a day before the by-election.

In KUALA LUMPUR, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the choice of Isa was the appropriate one to help the Barisan retain the state seat.

“We are very happy with the Prime Minister’s decision to pick Isa,” he said in a statement.

Samy Vellu said that Najib, as Barisan chairman and a leader with vast political experience, knew who the winning candidate would be.

“We are confident that the voters will turn out in full force on polling day to cast their votes for Isa, who is a well liked and humble person,” he said.

Samy Vellu said the MIC has camped in Bagan Pinang the past two weeks and was confident of a victory for the Barisan.

“We will now enter stage two of our work in Bagan Pinang, and I can say that Indian voters will opt for Isa,” he said.