PORT DICKSON: Former Umno Teluk Kemang chief Tan Sri Isa Abdul Samad will be contesting the Port Dickson parliamentary seat by-election as an independent candidate.
The former Felda chairman confirmed rumours of his candidacy when contacted by the New Straits Times Press.
He said he made the decision after learning that Barisan Nasional would be boycotting the by-election.
“I will hold a press conference in the near future, maybe tomorrow (Friday), regarding my decision to stand as an independent candidate.
“I am sorry... that is all I can say for now. Maybe tomorrow I will announce it officially,” he said.
Isa is an Umno veteran and was Negri Sembilan menteri besar from 1982 till 2004. He was Teluk Kemang Umno chief from 1978 to 2017.
The Port Dickson seat was left vacant when its member of parliament, Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah, resigned to make way for PKR president-elect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to become an MP again.
In the 14th general election, Danyal defeated BN’s Datuk V.S. Mogan and Mahfuz Roslan of Pas by a 17,710-vote majority.