Najib defends Isa: Was he kidding in France?

Najib made a defense for Isa when questioned recently in France.  The Bernama report that was published in The Malaysia Insider (read here) gives us an amusing side of our beloved PM.

Najib said former Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Isa, who was found guilty of breaching party rules, was punished for his offence while he also lost the mentri besar’s post and Umno vice-president’s post.

…….

“This (Isa’s offence) is only a technical matter in the party and he has already paid for his deeds,” said Najib when asked by a student on the decision to pick Isa for the Bagan Pinang by-election.

Isa was found guilty of money politics in the 2004 Umno election and was suspended for six years which eventually was reduced to three years (read here).  This is not a mere breach of party rules.  It is clearly an act of corruption.  It is not only [emphasis mine] a technical matter in the party.  If his action is a not acceptable within Umno, it is also not acceptable in the realm of Malaysian politics.  This is not a private affair within Umno.

Is money politics a small matter after all?