SPECIAL REPORT | The people of Pagoh are not seen as rebellious, with the BN having had an uninterrupted series of electoral victories in the parliamentary constituency.

But talk to the local political veterans, and they will speak of a rebel who had once tried to break Umno's grip on Pagoh.

This rebel was none other than the second longest serving post-Merdeka Johor menteri besar Othman Saat, whose political career was brought to an end by Muhyiddin Yassin, the incumbent Pagoh MP.

Othman had served as Johor menteri besar from 1967 to 1982. He lost the contest for the Pagoh Umno chief to Muhyiddin in 1985 and was subsequently forced into retirement.

Muhyiddin, who was Pagoh MP since 1978, later switched to a state seat within Pagoh and served as Johor menteri besar from 1986 to 1995. He returned as Pagoh MP the same year.

Othman re-emerged following the Umno split of 1988, to lead the Johor chapter of the now defunct Umno splinter party Semangat 46.

Othman, who as an Umno menteri besar, had contested and won a state seat within Pagoh, was set to take on Muhyiddin in Pagoh during the 1990 general election, but did not go through with filing his nomination papers.

The reason for Othman deciding not to contest in Pagoh at the last minute was never known but his opponents would say that Othman foresaw Semangat 46's doom, which was dissolved in 1996.

Almost three decades later, the story of a former Johor menteri besar seeking to overthrow Umno repeats - this time in the form of Muhyiddin and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), of which he is president.

But Muhyiddin's parallels with Othman is not only about their fates, but also their future - the possibility of abandoning the Pagoh parliamentary seat...