Only Isa’s name will be submitted by Teluk Kemang Umno

By Adib Zalkapli KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 — While the Teluk Kemang Umno division will only meet tomorrow to finalise its recommendations for the Bagan Pinang by-election candidate, it is understood that only the name of Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad will be submitted to the state Umno. Umno divisions normally submit more than one name to be considered by the state and central leadership. "We are all united behind Isa," said the Teluk Kemang Umno Wanita chief Rohani Yaacob, adding that tomorrow's meeting is just a routine division meeting. "I am thankful to the Wanita deputy chief for suggesting that a woman contest the seat, but I am not interested," she told The Malaysian Insider, referring to Datuk Kamelia Ibrahim's suggestion for a woman to be fielded in the state seat. Apart from Isa's, another name being floated by division leaders is his son Mohd Najib Isa, a two-term Teluk Kemang Youth deputy chief. But the state Umno warlords are not in favour of fielding the 31-year-old. "He does not have the experience like his father, which is what we need now to strengthen the party," said Seremban Umno chief Datuk Ishak Ismail. But the selection of Isa as the candidate might create the impression that BN is repeating its mistake in Permatang Pasir when the party fielded a disbarred lawyer, Rohaizat Othman, resulting in an embarrassing defeat for the coalition as the former federal territory minister's membership in Umno was suspended in early 2005 after he was found guilty of vote buying. "It's good for us if Isa is selected, it shows there is a talent shortage in Umno," said PKR's Teluk Kemang MP Datuk Kamarul Baharin Abbas. His suspension is also not an issue for the state Umno leaders. "When he was serving his suspension, he was still doing work for the party. He was in Ijok to campaign for BN," said Ishak, referring to the 2007 by-election. Another state leader told The Malaysian Insider that candidate selection should only be based on local considerations. "Do not bring federal matters into the selection of Bagan Pinang, we just want to win the election," said a state Umno leader. But Isa supporters are also prepared if the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) decides to use his corruption case as campaign fodder. "We will show them who is the father of money politics," said another Negeri Sembilan Umno leader pointing out that Isa in 1993 had fought against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's Wawasan Team. During the party election 16 years ago, Isa contested the Youth chief post against the then Malacca Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik, who was backed by the then newly-minted party deputy president Anwar. Isa lost the contest by 44 votes. In 2004, he obtained the highest vote for the vice-president contest only to be suspended for three years months later. If Isa is fielded in Bagan Pinang it will be his second attempt at making a comeback after failing to defend the vice-president post during the party election last April. The Bagan Pinang by-election was made necessary following the death of BN's Azman Mohammad Noor on Sept 4. In March last year, Azman defeated Ramli Ismail of PAS, by some 2,000 votes. BN is currently ruling the state with a simple majority after winning only 21 out of the 36 state constituencies.