By The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 — On the main roads and thoroughfares just outside Port Dickson near here, banners backing Tan Sri Isa Samad are already lining the streets.
The banners are the clearest physical evidence that as far as Umno’s Teluk Kemang division is concerned, the only man they will consider as candidate for the Bagan Pinang division will be Isa.
And The Malaysian Insider understands signs are that Umno’s top leaders are leaning towards making Isa the candidate as well.
They believe Isa should not be punished twice for his past infractions.
In short, the prevailing argument is that he has served his time, paid the price and should be allowed to stand as a candidate.
Umno leaders are favouring this argument despite some concerns brought up over Isa being perceived as a tainted candidate.
Among the most vocal critic of the idea of fielding Isa has been former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Dr Mahathir has argued that Umno’s image would be affected because it would be regarded as not being serious in fighting money politics if it chose as candidate someone who has been found guilty of political corruption.
The former PM said the public would view Isa’s potential candidacy as a reflection of Umno’s stand on corruption.
Isa was suspended for three years from Umno from June 24, 2005, for money politics in the 2004 Umno elections. He was originally suspended for six years but it was reduced after he appealed.
Nomination for the Bagan Pinang by-election has been fixed for Oct 3 and polling on Oct 11. The seat fell vacant following the death of Barisan Nasional incumbent Azman Mohammad Noor on Sept 4.
Bagan Pinang is situated within the Teluk Kemang parliamentary constituency of which Isa is the leader of the Umno division there.
Isa, who was Negeri Sembilan mentri besar for over two decades, is extremely popular in Teluk Kemang.
“He is so influential that if he tells people not to vote for Umno, they will not vote for Umno,” a local resident in Port Dickson told The Malaysian Insider.
His influence, and the unprecedentedly strong campaign to put him as a candidate, has caused top Umno leaders to favour Isa’s candidacy.
Party leaders here feel that it is important for Umno to send out a message that those who own up to their mistakes and remain loyal to the party must also be given recognition.
But they also feel that if Isa is nominated and wins the seat, as is expected, it will not mean that he is an MB candidate.
There will be no executive role for him, said Umno sources.
But Isa’s supporters are likely to make a case for him to replace Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan as MB again.
The Malaysian Insider understands that at least five of the eight Umno divisions in the state are in favour of fielding the former mentri besar in the seat
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