Victory… but at what cost?

(The Malaysian Insider) KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — The justification for naming Datuk Isa Samad as the Umno candidate for the vacant Bagan Pinang state seat has started.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the party was paying heed to the wishes of the constituents, putting people first — pinching a line from the prime minister’s mantra.

In the days ahead, other Umno leaders will argue that Isa has already paid the price for being found guilty of greasing the palms of party delegates in the Umno elections five years ago. They will note that he has suffered enough as a political leper and point out that he took his punishment without much protest.

Others may even put a different spin on the second coming of Isa by saying that it shows what a forgiving political party Umno is, an organisation that has a track record of giving second chances to those who strayed. (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Chik, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, Datuk Zakaria Deros, Datuk Rais Yatim, Khairy Jamaluddin, Datuk Khir Toyo, Datuk Ahmad Ismail, etc.)

But few will venture to offer the real reason why Isa was picked. He was the only candidate who could guarantee them what Umno desires most — a resounding victory. Not any victory, a thumping show over PAS.

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