Corruption charge notwithstanding, the Teluk Kemang Umno Youth is adamant that former menteri besar Mohd Isa Abdul Samad is the one for the Bagan Pinang by-election, defying former prime minster Dr Mahathir Mohamad's warning against fielding him.

NONE Its chief Mohd Faizal Ramli when contacted by Malaysiakini maintained that Isa is not only the choice within the Teluk Kemang Umno division but also of Bagan Pinang residents, including Indians and Chinese.

"We have done the survey ourselves and the conclusion is that Isa is still well respected as a leader even within the Indian and Chinese communities.

"He left behind an excellent track record as menteri besar for 22 years and is very popular with the ordinary people as he has an humble and easy to approach personality," said Mohd Faizal.

Party leaders should listen to grassroots

He mingles with the rakyat quite often and throws protocol to wind whenever they want to meet him with their grouses, he added.

He said that Bagan Pinang people want Isa as the candidate as he had helped solve numerous issues that had affected them in the past.

In reference to Mahathir's stance against Isa, Mohd Faizal said though he respected his opinion, its more important for the Umno leadership to listen to the voice of the Bagan Piniang grassroots.

"This is especially true when the government has always reminded Barisan Nasional leaders that they should always listen to the rakyat.

"Yes, he was punished before for money politics, but is it fair to punish him again after he already served his sentence in Umno?

"After all, he never deserted Umno and remain loyal to the party. The Umno leadership should consider all these factors and should field Isa as the candidate," he added.

Mohd Faizal hopes that the top party leaders will give consideration to the Bagan Pinang electorate's wish as they do not see the Isa's past disciplinary record as a liability, in fact that should be overridden by his record as menteri besar and his great rapport with the locals.

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