Monday 5 October 2009

Bagan Pinang by-election: Isa Samad has already paid his dues says PM...

...and he deserves a second chance.

Defending Barisan Nasional's decision to field Tan Sri Isa Samad for the Bagan Pinang state by-election, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said the former has already paid his dues.

Tan Sri Isa, a former menteri besar of Negeri Sembilan, was suspended from Umno in 2004 after being found guilty of practicing money politics.

Speaking to students in Paris, Datuk Seri Najib said: "The question here is whether he deserved a second chance or not."

And to the Prime Minister and the Umno leadership Tan Sri Isa does (deserve a second chance) because he is a loyal party member and has been working hard for the party.

The NST has the report:

Bagan Pinang by-election: Isa paid dues, deserves second chance, says PM Najib

2009/10/05

Nuraina A Samad reporting from Paris

PARIS: Tan Sri Isa Samad has paid his dues and deserves a second chance as the Barisan Nasional candidate in the Bagan Pinang state by-election, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said here.

"Action has already been taken against him for his offences, and he lost his party posts. The punishment he got was severe. The question is whether he deserves a second chance.

"In our system, criminals can be given a second chance. People who have been sentenced by the courts are given a second chance," he said in response to a question by a Malaysian student during a gathering at Pavillon Davphine at Place du Marechal de Lattre Tassigny, here Sunday.

Engineering student Ahmed Syukri Amin Ahmed Ismail wanted the Prime Minister to explain why BN picked the former Menteri Besar whom Umno had found guilty of money politics, as Bagan Pinang candidate in the forthcoming state by-election.

Najib who is in France for a four-day official visit said Isa did not break the country's laws, but the party's ethics. Besides, he is not being picked for a Cabinet position but as a candidate for the state assembly.

He said the Opposition could raise all sorts of allegations but the fact is that they are faced with more serious ones.

"Isa has paid his dues, is loyal to the party and has, in fact, been working hard for the party.

"The party's primary consideration is (to choose) someone who can effectively serve the constituency, someone popular and someone whose leadership people can accept.

"Our reading is that Tan Sri Isa is the most popular candidate and the right choice for Bagan Pinang."

Najib who is accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, later hosted a 1Malaysia open house.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

If a Bank Employee is caught stealing money from the bank, it's unthinkable to put him back to work in the bank even if he already serve his term, right?

Likewise, you never allow a pedophile anywhere near a kindergarten if one is caught.To to let him back to work in the very same childcare center that he committed his offense saying that he had already done his time is an insult of the highest order!

puteri said...

Am tryingto make sense of what the PM is trying to say in defence of the BN/Umno's choice of TS Isa's candidancy.

Isa was suspended from Umno by the party after he was found guilty of buying votes during the party polls in 2004.

If you are a tainted leader then forever you are tainted. In the case of Isa, he was found guilty of using money to win the party election.

I suppose if that is the kind of leader the umno grassroots want, then they deserve to have him - a corrupt leader.

Lee said...

Of course Isa Samad can contest, and if elected, be given the chance to serve at the highest level.After all some have not "paid their dues" and yet are serving at the highest level.This is only "fair".Corruption is not that important.Many are not
"caught" and , therefore, have not been given the chance "to pay their dues"Anyway, corruption is very very common in Malaysia.Its only "technical" most of the time.Where do we draw the line between corruption and "technical offences"?

Matt said...

Najib is defending the indefensible.

Tan sri Isa Samad is a recycled and corrupt Umno leader. Period!

All Umno wants is to win this by-election, by any means.

Dont they have anyone better?

Umno dulu kini dan selama-lamanya. Tidak akan berubah.