FORMER Negri Sembilan menteri besar Isa Samad will contest as an independent in the Port Dickson by-election on October 13.

The former Teluk Kemang Umno chief said the move to contest was because of Barisan Nasional’s decision to boycott the by-election.

“God willing, I will contest. I will reveal my reasons later. I am keen to contest. I am an Umno member but the party is not willing to contest.

“Umno wants to boycott, so I feel I will contest instead,” he told The Malaysian Insight.  

Isa was the menteri besar for 22 years, from 1982 to 2004.

He was the Linggi assemblyman for five terms and also won the Bagan Pinang state seat in a by-election in 2009. Both these seats are in the Port Dickson parliamentary constituency.

He was also the former Jempol MP.

He said he stood a good chance of winning the PD seat as he had served the people there for a long time.

Isa was appointed as Felda chairman between 2010 and 2017 but the tenure was blighted by investigations into alleged dubious land deals and hotel purchases.

The Port Dickson seat, previously known as Teluk Kemang, became vacant after Danyal Balagobal Abdullah gave up the seat as part of PKR president-elect Anwar Ibrahim’s attempt to return to Parliament.

While BN and Umno have boycotted the contest, PAS will be naming its candidate tonight.

Parti Rakyat Malaysia and independent candidate Stevie Chan Keng Leng have also said they would be contesting.

Nomination day for the by-election is Saturday. – September 27, 2018.