Isa Abdul Samad today promised to campaign hard for victory, immediately after he was announced the BN candidate for the Bagan Pinang by-election.

He wants BN to win with a big majority this time and regards it as a heavy responsibility.

"The ups and downs in politics are normal. I was once a menteri besar and then a minister. This is a struggle.

isa samad bagan pinang 02 "When the party has asked and entrusted me to contest, there is no reason for me to turn it down. This is a responsibility and I am prepared to shoulder it," he told reporters after attending an Aidilfitri function in Bagan Pinang with several top national leaders.

He was named the BN candidate for the Bagan Pinang state seat by-election by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today.

Isa said this would his first time contesting in his hometown as all along he had contested in the Linggi state constituency and Jempol parliamentary constituency.

‘I paid for it for three years’

Asked how he would deflect attacks by the opposition which would be using the issue of vote buying which had caused him to be suspended by Umno, he said: "I did not commit a crime, but had violated the party elections' code of ethics.

"I have paid for it for three years, so the issue should no longer arise. People have accepted cases involving crime and some of those involved have gone on to become chief minister, minister and there are also those aspiring to become prime minister. You have all, so what's the problem?"

Isa had actually been informed by Muhyiddin over the phone of his candidacy for the by-election hours before the announcement was made.

He said he was not angry with former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad who criticised him and urged him not to contest the by-election, as he respected the elder statesman.

He was confident that BN would win the Bagan Pinang seat with a bigger majority than in the last general election.

- Bernama