KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — Umno is unlikely to nominate former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Tan Sri Isa Samad whom it has welcomed back into the party as a candidate in the coming state election.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the party hopes Isa can still contribute by using his political clout with the veterans during the election campaign.
“Umno is an open party and we are aware that in today's reality the party cannot block anyone as long as they contribute to strengthening umno,
“As a former MB with long experience, close relationship with Umno veterans, maybe that is a contribution.
“We don't expect him to make a comeback in politics, but with good experience, long history, high sentimentality, maybe he will stay in Umno,” Asyraf told a news conference at the Umno headquarters here this afternoon.
Isa, a former Jempol MP, was accepted back into Umno last week.
He left Umno in October 2018 after going against the party leadership’s decision to sit out the Port Dickson parliamentary by-election that saw Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim elected its MP.
Six states are expected to hold elections this year following the five-year expiry of their state assemblies. They are: Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Penang, Kedah, Terengganu, and Kelantan.
Asyraf also told reporters today that he has yet to see any formal apology or appeal from former Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman against his suspension from Umno last December.
“So far I have not received any applications from Tajuddin Rahman. Maybe I overlooked it. I will check back at the office if there is a letter from him,” he said.
Tajuddin was recently reported to have expressed his love towards Umno and said he would not join any other party, unlike his other peers like Tan Sri Annuar Musa and Tan Sri Noh Omar who have been seen close with the Opposition Perikatan Nasional leaders following their sacking.
Tajudin was also reported to have sought to participate in the coming state elections.
