GE14 | Ismail Mohamed, the protégé of Muhyiddin Yassin, is prepared for a student versus sifu (teacher) battle in Pagoh.

This was after Ismail was nominated by BN to take on Muhyiddin in the parliamentary constituency of Pagoh.

"It is not a problem. There have been many clashes with the sifu.

"Muhyiddin too had clashed with his sifu Othman Saat," he told Malaysiakini after he was formally named as the candidate in Johor Bahru today.

Othman had served as Johor menteri besar from 1967 to 1982. He lost the contest for the Pagoh Umno chief to Muhyiddin in 1985 and was subsequently forced into retirement.

Muhyiddin, who was Pagoh MP in 1978, later switched to a state seat within Pagoh, and served as Johor menteri besar from 1986 to 1995. He returned as Pagoh MP the same year.

Othman re-emerged following the Umno split of 1988 to lead the Johor chapter of the now-defunct Umno splinter party Semangat 46.

Othman, who as an Umno menteri besar had contested and won a state seat within Pagoh, was set to take on Muhyiddin in Pagoh during the 1990 general election.

'Difficult path ahead'

However, Ismail noted that Othman pulled out at the last minute "as he put the interest of the people over himself."

Asked if Ismail thought Muhyiddin should do the same and pull out, he replied: "I didn't say that, it is up to him".

Ismail said he will do his best to ensure BN wins in Pagoh.

"I have chosen a difficult path even though there are easier options," he said.

Ismail had served as Muhyiddin's deputy in the Pagoh division until Muhyiddin's sacking from Umno in 2016. Ismail is now the acting Pagoh Umno division chief.

Under Muhyiddin's wings, Ismail was fast-tracked into the Johor government as an executive councillor, despite being a first-term assemblyperson.

Ismail is the incumbent assemblyperson in Bukit Serampang (now Bukit Kepong). He will not be defending the state seat.

Following his sacking, Muhyiddin became a founding member of Umno splinter party Bersatu.

Muhyiddin will be contesting in the parliamentary seat of Pagoh and the state seat of Gambir.