BEHIND THE SCENES BACKSTABBING INTENSIFY TO STOP ANWAR? IN SHOCK MOVE, ISA SAMAD QUITS UMNO TO CONTEST PD – WIN OR LOSE, WILL ISA ALSO JOIN BERSATU NEXT?

PETALING JAYA – Isa Samad announced that he has quit Umno, hours after saying he would contest in the Port Dickson by-election as an independent candidate, Astro Awani reported.

The former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar, who was the Teluk Kemang Umno chief from 1978 to 2017, said he had submitted his notice to the party two days ago.

“I left Umno because I want to contest, so there will be no issue of me being fired. I sacked myself,” the portal quoted the former Felda chairman as saying in Port Dickson.

The Port Dickson by-election is set to see a five-cornered fight after Isa – who served as menteri besar from 1982 to 2004 – announced he would vie for the parliamentary seat.

Others who are expected to contest the by-election are PKR’s president-elect Anwar Ibrahim, PAS candidate Lt-Col (Rtd) Mohd Nazari Mokhtar, Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s Ahmad Kamarudin and independent Stevie Chan.

The Port Dickson seat fell vacant after its incumbent Danyal Balagopal Abdullah stepped down to make way for Anwar who is attempting to return to Parliament.

Danyal, a former naval officer, won the Port Dickson seat with 36,225 votes, beating Barisan Nasional’s VS Mogan (18,515 votes) and PAS’ Mahfuz Roslan (6,594 votes) in the May 9 general election.

Polling day is on Oct 13, with nominations on Sept 29. Early voting will take place on Oct 9.

Isa’s exit from the party follows the resignations of other Umno leaders recently including former ministers Anifah Aman and Mustapa Mohamed.

Others who have left the party include Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, Bukit Gantang MP Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, and Bagan Serai MP Noor Azmi Ghazali.

– FMT