The Malaysian Insight

FORMER Negri Sembilan menteri besar Isa Samad said his vote for himself has put him ahead of the race in the Port Dickson by-election.

The independent candidate, who is a former Umno strongman, said that as a local boy he had an advantage over the competition, including PKR president-elect Anwar Ibrahim, who were parachute candidates while he was a registered voter in the parliamentary constituency.

“Their disadvantage is that they cannot vote for themselves. As of today, I have got one vote – mine because I vote here.

“This is not counting the votes of my family members. I am already leading as of today,” Isa told The Malaysian Insight in an interview in Port Dickson.

The former Teluk Kemang Umno Chief said he was disappointed in his former party for not fielding a candidate in the by-election.

“I had expected to be placed as the candidate but Umno did otherwise. That’s not to say that I wanted it badly, but my name had come up several times.

“I waited but the party decided on a boycott. My view is that we must contest. That was why I quit Umno. If I hadn’t, I would be sacked,” Isa said.

A member since 1972, Isa said he was “aggrieved” at having to leave the party but it had to be done for the sake of Negri Sembilan. 

“This does not change anything. This does not affect the state or country. But the party should have contested to show we are good opposition,” Isa said.

 

Even though he has quit Umno, the former Jempol MP said he had election machinery to back him on the campaign trail

“The machinery will be there. There will be many friends helping me, even from Umno,” he said.

Isa will be going door to door to meet his voters.

He is up against Anwar, PAS’ Mohd Nazari Mokhtar, a retired air force officer,  and four other independents including Anwar’s ex-aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Isa was the Linggi assemblyman for five terms, who also won Bagan Pinang state seat in a by-election in 2009. Both seats are in the Port Dickson parliamentary constituency. –  September 30, 2018.