Hisham: Voters want Isa
(The Star) – Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said former Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Tan Sri Isa Samad was picked as the Barisan Nasional candidate for the Bagan Pinang by-election based on the constituents’ wishes.
He said there had been many calls from people in Bagan Pinang and Teluk Kemang for Isa to stand in the by-election and they were not just limited to Barisan component party members.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had said that people no longer voted based on the party.
“They give their support to the candidate they feel will best serve them, so it is only natural to pick a candidate that the people wanted,” he said in his post-Cabinet press conference at his ministry here yesterday.
Hishammuddin said when Umno took action against Isa, Isa did not bad-mouth or hit out at the party.
“Instead, he continued to be loyal to the party and worked hard during elections, and the leadership also took this into account when picking him,” he added.
Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said those who were unhappy about Isa’s selection should respect the decision made by the Umno leadership.
He said Isa was a loyal party man who was well-liked by constituents.
“Isa has been punished for what he did. A person cannot be punished twice for the same mistake,” he told reporters in Seremban yesterday.
MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said Isa was the appropriate choice for Barisan.
“We are very happy with the Prime Minister’s decision to pick Isa,” he said in a statement.
Samy Vellu said Najib, as Barisan chairman and a leader with vast political experience, knew who the winning candidate would be.
Meanwhile, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Isa would probably bring victory to Barisan.
“I think it’s good. We will win,” he said at the sidelines of the Forbes Global CEO Conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Asked if he was disappointed by the choice, Dr Mahathir said, “my personal feelings do not count”.
