GE14: Siblings face-off, candidates with family ties
By Rhoma Ahmad Razali
KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 (Bernama) -- Candidates with family ties are seen representing various political parties, vying for parliamentary and states seats, besides standing as independent candidates in the 14th General Election (GE14).
Among those grabbing the headlines are Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali's clash with younger brother, controversial celebrity Azwan Ali, for the Bukit Antarabangsa state seat.
Azwan, also known as 'Diva AA', is contesting as an independent candidate and has in the past, often criticised his brother, who is also Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman since 2008.
In the general election this time, a five-cornered fight will ensue with both brothers facing off Salwa Yunus of Barisan Nasional (BN), Syarifah Hazlizah Syed Ariffin (PAS) and Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) candidate Ahmad Kamarudin.
In Sabah, Sabah Heritage Party president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal will be opposing his cousin, Datuk Seri Nasir Sakaran from BN in a one-on-one rivalry for the Senallang state seat. Mohd Shafie will also be defending his Semporna parliamentary seat. Mohd Shafie's younger brother, BN's Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal, is contesting the Lahad Datu state seat.
Meanwhile, the Kitingan siblings will also be battling for the Tambunan state seat. Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan (BN) is defending his seat against brother, Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan of Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star).
In two previous general elections in 2008 and 2013, the brothers drew attention when they fought for the Keningau parliamentary seat which saw Pairin, who was also Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, beat Jeffrey in the elections.
In the meantime, Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman, who is also the state BN chairman, will defend the Sungai Sibuga state seat, while his brother, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman will defend the Kimanis parliamentary seat.
Musa's son, Yamani Hafez, will make his first appearance in the election, representing BN for the Sipitang parliamentary seat.
In Perlis, Minister in the Prime Minister\'s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim who is also the state UMNO Liaison Committee chairman is defending the Arau parliamentary seat, while his younger brother, Datuk Ismail Kassim will defend the Tambun Tulang state seat.
Also involved in GE14 is Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad representing BN and his brother, Khalid from Amanah who will defend their Johor Baharu and Shah Alam parliamentary seats, respectively.
Compared with the BN, opposition candidates who have prominent family ties are especially those involving the 'Anwar', 'Lim' and 'Singh' families.
Although PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was not able to participate in the election because of his prison sentence, two members of his family, namely wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and their eldest daughter, Nurul Izzah are contesting in the Pandan and Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituencies, respectively.
Dr Wan Azizah, who is also PKR president, has moved from the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat to contest in Pandan and PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah has moved from the Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat to contest the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat.
The Permatang Pauh seat is PKR's stronghold and is deemed to be the Anwar family's traditional seat where Anwar and Wan Azizah have held the seat since 1982, including when Anwar was in BN.
Meanwhile, two members of the Lim family are contesting in Johor and Penang.
Lim Kit Siang, who is also DAP adviser, is contesting in the Iskandar Puteri parliamentary seat (formerly known as Gelang Patah) in Johor while his son, DAP secretary-general Guan Eng will defend the Bagan parliamentary seat and the Air Putih state seat in Penang.
The children of former DAP chairman, the late Karpal Singh, namely Gobind Singh Deo, Ramkarpal Singh and Jagdeep Singh Deo will defend their respective seats, namely the Puchong and Bukit Gelugor parliamentary seats and the Datuk Keramat state seat.
Other candidates with blood ties are former prime minister and PPBM chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who will be contesting the Langkawi parliamentary seat, and his son, Datuk Seri Mukhriz who is vying for the Jerlun parliamentary and Jitra state seats.
Meanwhile, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang will defend his Marang parliamentary seat while his son, who is PAS Youth state chief Muhammad Khalil will make his debut in the Batu Buruk state seat in Terengganu.
Also entering the political fray are children of the former Kelantan menteri besar, the late Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, namely Nik Mohamad Abduh, who will be PAS candidate for the Bachok parliamentary seat, while Nik Omar sparked controversy for contesting under PKR-Amanah for the Chempaka state seat.
-- BERNAMA
