Isa ready to contest post if nominated

KUALA LUMPUR: Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Mohamed Isa Abdul Samad is prepared to vie for an Umno vice-president's post in the coming party elections.  

Announcing his intention after opening a service centre in Bahau on Thursday, Mohd Isa said he would stand for the post if nominated. 

An Umno supreme council member for the past 20 years, he said he was keen to offer his services as there would be an “empty” slot for a vice-president's post. 

The three elected vice-presidents now are Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib. 

It is most likely that Najib, who is Deputy Prime Minister, will not be challenged in the party polls for the deputy president's post. 

On April 20, acting Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was reported as saying that he welcomed an open contest for the three vice-president’s posts in the coming party elections. 

Mohamed Isa, 54, contested the Umno Youth chief post in 1990 but did not capture the position. 

In the last party elections, the former Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar vied for a vice-president's post but also failed in his bid.  

In Kota Kinabalu, Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said he would be staying out of the vice-president's race but would be vying for a supreme council seat in the party polls in September. 

“I think it will suffice for me to go for the post of supreme council member,” said Musa, who is also Sabah Umno chief.