Isa is Independent candidate at PD parliamentary by-election

SEREMBAN, Sept 27 (Bernama) – Former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad today confirmed he would contest in the Port Dickson's parliamentary constituency by-election (PRK).

The former UMNO vice-president and chairman of Felda said he made the decision after making various considerations including UMNO not putting its candidate in the area.

"I was called to contest because the seat has been vacated, and I am a native of Port Dickson," he said when contacted here tonight.

The former Telok Kemang UMNO division (now Port Dickson) chief said he believed he had a good chance of winning since he had served in the area and is known to local voters.

Mohd Isa said that his candidacy in the Port Dickson's parliamentary constituency PRK also meant that he had also left UMNO.

Isa was a Linggi state assemblyman for five terms from 1978 and held the Bagan Pinang state seat for one term from 2009, both within the Port Dickson parliamentary constituency. Isa, who also held the menteri besar’s post for 22 years, was also elected as MP for Jempol in 2004.

The Port Dickson parliamentary constituency had also attracted several other quarters as well as Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s president-elect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, two political parties, namely, PAS and Parti Rakyat Malaysia, as well as independent candidate and social media personality Stevie Chan Keng Leong to participate.

The Port Dickson parliamentary seat was vacated by incumbent Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah, 68, on Sept 12 to allow Anwar, who recently won the post of PKR president, to contest and return to the Dewan Rakyat.

In the 14th General Election, May 9, Danyal Balagopal won the seat with a comfortable majority of 17, 710 votes defeating Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk V.S Mogan and Mahfuz Roslan from PAS.

-- BERNAMA