PD POLLS | Independent candidate Mohd Isa Samad today admitted some of the Umno grassroots leaders and members in Port Dickson have come out in support his candidacy in the Oct 13 by-election.

However, he denied the report by The Malaysian Insight (TMI) that quoted sources as saying that these grassroots leaders had defied Umno's orders.

There was some misunderstanding among Umno members and leaders about the campaign effort, the former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar said.

"They cannot run the campaign machinery (for me) and they are not part of my campaign team," he told media members at an eatery located under the Port Dickson Umno headquarters.

Isa pointed at a man who sat beside him and introduced the latter as an Umno branch leader, without revealing his identity.

"He comes to see me and supports me. What's the problem?" he asked, adding these Umno grassroots members were acting within their rights and have not gone against the party's constitution.

TMI reported that almost half of the 53 Umno branches in the constituency are out campaigning for Isa.

“If Umno wants to take disciplinary action against us, by all means... It’s just not right that we, who have already received so much, should leave Isa on his own,” an unnamed branch chief was quoted as saying at an “information sharing” gathering in Linggi last night.

“Tonight, we are ‘taking off’ our Umno shirts,” said another.

“No Umno tonight. We are free to help our candidate, the independent candidate. When Umno boycotted the election, it meant we are free (to help Isa),” he added.

Another branch leader, also not named in the report, stated: “Out of the 53 Umno branch chiefs in Port Dickson, some 23 to 25 are die-hard Isa supporters.

“Another 12 to 13 are still dithering, undecided and confused. But they are not against Isa contesting.”

TMI also reported that the claims were confirmed by another branch leader.

Contacted by Malaysiakini, Port Dickson Umno division chief Faizal Ramli said he has no way of verifying the TMI report, which cited sources.

However, he said, if these members came out to help Isa on a personal basis, it was because Isa was close to them.

Citing Isa's son, who is also Port Dickson Umno Youth chief, Faizal said the son may campaign for his father due to their personal ties.

He also said that these unknown members campaigning for Isa might be slapped with disciplinary action.

"I already advised the division committee against campaigning for any candidate," Faizal told Malaysiakini.

"The central disciplinary board will take action (in case there is a breach of discipline).

"But we have no right to bar them from coming out to vote and supporting any particular candidate," he added.

Isa will be facing off against PKR candidate Anwar Ibrahim, PAS candidate Mohd Nazari Mokhtar, and five independents for the Port Dickson parliamentary seat.

Incumbent Danyal Balagopal Abdullah had vacated the seat to allow Anwar to make his parliamentary comeback and subsequently succeed Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister.

Advanced polling for the by-election will take place on Oct 9, while polling falls on Oct 13.