Isa: I’ll go all out to create upset

Former MB confident of chances in PD by-election

PORT DICKSON: It is an uphill task, but Tan Sri Isa Samad is unperturbed and aims to go all out to create an upset come polling day on Oct 13.

Based on his calculations, the former Negri Sembilan mentri besar for 22 years said he needed just one-third of Chinese votes to halt the political comeback of the next prime minister.

“There is already a split in the Malay votes. I believe I can secure over half of the Indian votes.

“If I can get 33% of the Chinese votes, I should be able to win,” he said at his operations centre in Kampung Baru Si Rusa.

The polls will see a seven-cornered fight between Pakatan Harapan’s Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, PAS’ Mohd Nazari Mokhtar and independents Stevie Chan Keng Leong, Kan Chee Yuen, Lau Sek Yan, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan and Isa.

Malays make up the majority or 42.72% of the 75,381 voters, followed by Chinese (33.11%) and Indians (21.97%).

In the May 9 general election, PKR’s Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah won the seat with a 17,710-vote majority. He then vacated it to pave the way for Anwar to return to Parliament.

Isa said he was not worried about facing Anwar.

“People say he has a well-oiled election machinery, practically run by an army of supporters.

“But they should not forget that I too am no pushover, having been here for decades,” said the former five-term Linggi and oneterm Bagan Pinang assemblyman.

Both state constituencies are within the Port Dickson parliamentary constituency and Umno strongholds.

After Barisan Nasional decided not to contest, Isa quit Umno to go in as an independent.

Isa was also confident of getting a high number of postal votes.

“I won Bagan Pinang in the 2009 by-election with a high number of army votes. I’m certain they will vote for me again,” he said.