KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21- Former Umno vice-president Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad (photo) today announced his intention to contest for the post of vice-president at the party polls this October.
He also expressed hope that the decision would get the support from all quarters, especially Umno members.
“I think what I have, my experience and expertise, will be found useful to help party leadership in facing the 14th general election.
“This is important because we all want to strengthen the party to face the next general election,” he told reporters after the launch of the first non-food product produced by Delima Oil Product Sdn Bhd (Delima Oil), a subsidiary of Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) here Tuesday.
Mohd Isa, who is also the Telok Kemang Umno chief, once held the post of Umno vice-president from 2004 to 2007 after securing 1,507 votes, the highest compared to the number of votes garnered by the other two Umno vice-presidents, namely Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam (1,329 votes), and the then Minister of International Trade and Industry Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (1,234 votes).
However, Umno Disciplinary Board had suspended Mohd Isa’s membership for three years from June 24, 2005 to June 23, 2008, after he was found guilty of money politics in the party polls.
When asked about his chances of winning the contest, Mohd Isa said it was up to the 150,000 Umno members at the grassroots level to decide.
The former menteri besar of Negeri Sembilan also said that he had yet to receive open support from any quarters, and had not even carried out a survey on the matter at the grassroots level.
“Only after I have made this announcement will I meet with the party leadership at all levels to explain my intention so that they can decide whether or not I will be a suitable candidate.
“If I’m fit to be the vice-president, then support me. If not, there is no need for them to give me their support because whatever we do, we do it for the future of the party,” he said.
On Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s statement encouraging new and old faces to contest at this year’s party polls, Mohd Isa said he hoped no one would stop new faces to join the party.
“Umno has a very good training process. We all begin with Umno Youth as our training ground. The old faces also began their journey from there.
“If we don’t allow the young and new faces, especially the professionals, to join the party, they will run away. Yes, some people went straight to the top, but the majority started at the bottom and had undergone the normal process. The longer we spend our time in Umno, the more love we will have for the party,” he added.
– BERNAMA
