‘I HAVE NO IDEA, HA HA HA’: SURELY ISA SAMAD MUST KNOW HE HAS NO CHANCE TO DEFEND HIS SEAT, OTHERWISE HOW CAN NAJIB BLAME HIM FOR FELDA CORRUPTION SCANDALS

As party rivals jostle to contest in Jempol, Negeri Sembilan, Umno strongman Mohd Isa Samad, who is the incumbent parliamentarian, may find himself out in the cold in the coming general election.

Isa’s main competitor is Jempol BN and Umno chief Mohd Salim Sharif, who was once his political secretary. Salim took over Jempol Umno division in 2013 and was appointed senator a year later.

He is seen close to Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Mohamad Hassan’s camp, a rival to Isa’s faction in the state.

According to people who are familiar with Jempol, Isa was seldom seen in the constituency.

On the contrary, Salim has actively interacted with voters as well as BN component parties and is widely seen as the prospective candidate for the seat. He even asked Jempol residents if they would support him should he be fielded as MP.

Isa was Negeri Sembilan menteri besar for 22 years and an Umno chieftain. In 2004, he won the vice-presidency in the party polls, but his post and membership were suspended after he was accused of vote buying.

He made a comeback in 2008 and a year later, he won the Bagan Pinang by-election with an overwhelming majority.

In 2010, he was picked by Prime Minister Najib Razak for the plump post as Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) chief.

However, he was soon embroiled in a number of scandals involving the state agency and was replaced by Umno Johor Bahru MP Shahrir Samad.

Najib subsequently named him acting chairperson of the Land Public Transport Commission (Spad). Two months later, Isa was arrested by MACC in connection with controversial hotel purchases by Felda.

Although Isa has been Jempol MP for two terms – 2004 and 2013 respectively (he did not contest in 2008) – he is Umno Teluk Kemang division chief.

Last month, Mohamad Hassan announced MIC publicity chief VS Morgan as BN candidate for Teluk Kemang.

When contacted, Isa declined to comment if he would be defending Jempol in the coming election.

“I have no idea, hahaha,” he laughed.

As for Salim, he too was tight-lipped on whether he would be fielded in Jempol.

“I would not like to comment at the moment. Let the (Umno) president (Najib) decides,” he told Malaysiakini.

No place to go

Jempol has four state seats – Serting (under Umno), Palong (Umno), Jeram Padang (MIC) and Bahau (DAP).

According to Bahau MCA candidate Steven Chong Wan Yu, Salim has been working hard to get the seat.

“Isa seems to know he has little chance (to defend his seat). He is like a deflated ball. Salim is Jempol BN and Umno chief, hence his chance is high.”

Chong said that if Isa is not defending Jempol, he has no other parliamentary seats in Negeri Sembilan which he could be fielded – the other seven parliamentary seats in the state are already held by either Umno leaders or the opposition.

“He is unlikely to contest a state seat.”

DAP Bahau assemblyperson Chew Seh Yong, when contacted, agreed that Salim is favourite to be selected as Jempol candidate.

“According to Umno sources here, Salim will be contesting and Isa has no chance. This is not certain, but it’s highly likely (for Isa to be replaced).

“Isa is closed to Najib. Whether this will change, it is uncertain,” said Chew.

– M’kini