Social media influencer pulls out as Muda candidate

TAMPIN: Mohamad Iswan Ishak, who came under fire recently over an old joke about the disabled community, will no longer contest a seat in Negri Sembilan under the Muda banner, says the party.

“Even though he has been announced as Muda’s candidate for N.36 Repah, following discussions, he has made the decision to retract his candidacy for personal reasons.

“We wish to thank (Mohamad) Iswan for the teamwork he has shown and wish him the best of luck,” the party said in a statement yesterday.

Muda secretary-general Amir Abd Hadi, when asked if the withdrawal included his membership in the youth party, clarified that Mohamad Iswan was not a member.

“He was among those who joined during our online campaign to democratise the candidate selection process,” he said.

After Muda announced his candidacy for Repah, the social media influencer courted brickbats following the resurgence of an old video in which he made jokes while a friend pretended to be a disabled person in order to park at a designated lot.

Mohamad Iswan, 32, has since apologised for the video.

In a TikTok video later yesterday, he confirmed it.

“I’d like to inform (everyone) that I will not be continuing to stand in this election over several factors. I will focus on matters that I need to learn before becoming a public representative.

“I will continue to voice out issues in my area, which is Repah, not as a representative but as a regular citizen,” he said.