COMMENT On paper, the Bagan Pinang state seat could have been PAS' for the taking, on the simplistic basis that Barisan Nasional (BN) had appeared to have shot itself in the foot by fielding Isa Samad.

There he was, the Umno big fish who had been caught for corrupt practice in 2004, just waiting to be fried by political rivals in the by-election campaign. Surprisingly, PAS let him off the hook.