Teluk Kemang Umno division has unanimously nominated division chief leader Isa Samad as a candidate in the upcoming by-election to be held in the Bagan Pinang state constituency of Negeri Sembilan.
The decision to nominate the former menteri besar was made last night at the division's meeting which was attended by 33 out of 34 committee members.
According to Mohd Faizal Ramli, Barisan Nasional's deputy election director for the Bagan Pinang by-election, no other names were suggested by the committee members.
"In fact, Isa was the sole candidate who was nominated unanimously by the members," said Faizal, who is also Umno's Youth division chief.
He explained that according to the procedures, the decision will later be forwarded to the Umno state and subsequently sent to the federal level.
Previously, state Umno liaison chief Mohamad Hassan was reported as saying that he would accept any candidate who is nominated by the Umno division.
However, the Election Commission has yet to fix the date for the by-election as they will only hold a meeting, in Putrajaya, next Monday.
It is predicted that Isa is the right candidate to break the jinx of eight straight by-election defeats suffered by the ruling coalition at the hands of arch rivals Pakatan Rakyat in the peninsula.
Isa, who has been the menteri besar of Negeri Sembilan from 1982 to 2004, rose rapidly in the Umno political arena but it was short-lived when he was accused of money politics.
That landed him in a six-year suspension by the Umno disciplinary committee but the punishment was shortened to three years.
Isa would have made an early political comeback if he won his bid for the vice-president's post during the recent Umno election.
Umno is prepared
On preparations for the upcoming by-election, Faizal said the party is "ever ready" for a win in the constituency, as it is an Umno stronghold.
"Besides, we have set up an operations centre, which will be in operation anytime," he said.
In this up-coming by elections Umno will, once again, be set to face opposition party PAS since their last face off in the previous general election.
The Islamic party, who is also equally enthusiastic to contest, said it has short-listed three potential names from the party's candidacy, which includes Negeri Sembilan PAS commissioner Zulkefly Mohamad Omar.
The other two names put forward are former state commissioner, Dr Rosli Yaacob, and former state Dewan Ulama chief, Kassim Tahim.
According to a source, most of the 25 division committee members nominated Zulkefly based on the votes gained by Mohd Salleh Man, state PAS commissioner in Penang who won Permatang Pasir's by-election last month.
Bagan Pinang's seat fell vacant following the death of its incumbent BN state rep, Azman Mohamad Noor.
Azman, a first-term state representative, passed away early this month from a blood infection.
The outcome of the by-election however will not jeopardise the BN's control in the state as the coalition controls 20 other seats out of 36 in all. Pakatan controls the remaining 15 - DAP (10), PKR (four) and PAS (one).
In March 2008, Azman defeated PAS' Ramli Ismail by a 2,333-vote majority.
The decision to nominate the former menteri besar was made last night at the division's meeting which was attended by 33 out of 34 committee members.
According to Mohd Faizal Ramli, Barisan Nasional's deputy election director for the Bagan Pinang by-election, no other names were suggested by the committee members.
"In fact, Isa was the sole candidate who was nominated unanimously by the members," said Faizal, who is also Umno's Youth division chief.
He explained that according to the procedures, the decision will later be forwarded to the Umno state and subsequently sent to the federal level.
Previously, state Umno liaison chief Mohamad Hassan was reported as saying that he would accept any candidate who is nominated by the Umno division.
However, the Election Commission has yet to fix the date for the by-election as they will only hold a meeting, in Putrajaya, next Monday.
It is predicted that Isa is the right candidate to break the jinx of eight straight by-election defeats suffered by the ruling coalition at the hands of arch rivals Pakatan Rakyat in the peninsula.
Isa, who has been the menteri besar of Negeri Sembilan from 1982 to 2004, rose rapidly in the Umno political arena but it was short-lived when he was accused of money politics.
That landed him in a six-year suspension by the Umno disciplinary committee but the punishment was shortened to three years.
Isa would have made an early political comeback if he won his bid for the vice-president's post during the recent Umno election.
Umno is prepared
On preparations for the upcoming by-election, Faizal said the party is "ever ready" for a win in the constituency, as it is an Umno stronghold.
"Besides, we have set up an operations centre, which will be in operation anytime," he said.
In this up-coming by elections Umno will, once again, be set to face opposition party PAS since their last face off in the previous general election.
The Islamic party, who is also equally enthusiastic to contest, said it has short-listed three potential names from the party's candidacy, which includes Negeri Sembilan PAS commissioner Zulkefly Mohamad Omar.
The other two names put forward are former state commissioner, Dr Rosli Yaacob, and former state Dewan Ulama chief, Kassim Tahim.
According to a source, most of the 25 division committee members nominated Zulkefly based on the votes gained by Mohd Salleh Man, state PAS commissioner in Penang who won Permatang Pasir's by-election last month.
Bagan Pinang's seat fell vacant following the death of its incumbent BN state rep, Azman Mohamad Noor.
Azman, a first-term state representative, passed away early this month from a blood infection.
The outcome of the by-election however will not jeopardise the BN's control in the state as the coalition controls 20 other seats out of 36 in all. Pakatan controls the remaining 15 - DAP (10), PKR (four) and PAS (one).
In March 2008, Azman defeated PAS' Ramli Ismail by a 2,333-vote majority.
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