Telok Kemang Umno division Youth head Mohd Faizal Ramli has defended the delegates' decision to nominate division chief Mohd Isa Samad as candidate for the Bagan Pinang state by-election on Oct 11.

NONE He said that despite talk that Isa was not a credible candidate because disciplinary action had been taken against him for money politics, the delegates viewed Isa as being able to unite the people in Port Dickson.

He claimed that the division had conducted a survey and found that the constituents, including the non-Malays, accepted Isa.

"I don't see how Isa's record can be a liability to Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the Bagan Pinang by-election," he told Bernama today.

He has proven his loyalty

He cited the example of former Umno president Dr Mahathir Mohamad against whom the first prime minister, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, had taken disciplinary action for writing the book, the ‘Malay dilemma'.

"Due to strong pressure from the grassroots, the next prime minister, the late Abdul Razak (Hussein), took Mahathir back and the latter went on to become a great leader," he said.

Mahathir last week advised against nominating Isa as candidate for the by-election saying that he had been found guilty in money politics and picking him might give the impression that Umno was not serious about fighting the menace.

Mohd Faizal said Isa was an apt choice because despite the disciplinary action he had proven his loyalty to the party and set a good example for the other members.

Isa was suspended for three years from June 24, 2005, for indulging in money politics in the 2004 Umno elections. He was originally suspended for six years or two terms but it was reduced after he appealed.

- Bernama