Family affair at the polls
Next of kin set to take on each other, mainly in Sabah
PETALING JAYA: It’s polls fever and for some families, a feud may be brewing as siblings and relatives take on each other in the general election.
Among the famous rivalry taking shape are longtime political foes Umno’s Tan Sri Shahrir Samad and his brother Amanah’s Khalid Samad, the Tengs from the opposite fences of Gerakan and DAP, the Kitingans in Sabah and the sons of the late PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat in Kelantan.
In Sabah, two prominent families are seeing siblings and cousins contesting from different sides of the fence.
In interior Sabah, Barisan Nasional’s Parti Bersatu Sabah president Tan Sri Joseph Kitingan is likely to square off against his political ly estranged younger brother – Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan of Sabah STAR – for the Tambunan state and Keningau parliament seats.
Pairin, 78, the Kadazandusun Huguan Siou (paramount leader), is hoping to retire after holding the Tambunan state and Keningau parliamentary seats since 1976 and 1985 but is being coaxed back.
Dr Jeffrey, 70, said that he would contest in both seats, regardless of Pairin’s retirement plans, after failing in his bid to unseat his brother from Keningau in 2008 and 2013.
The Kitingan family is also seeing a split into several parties with littleknown brother Crispin heading to Warisan while some brothersinlaw are digging into other parties.
On the east coast, Bajau warlord and Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal may be squaring off at least one – if not two – of his Umno cousins in the fight for Semporna.
Shafie may face his cousins – the sons of Sabah Umno’s first Chief Minister Tun Sakaran Dandai – in the battle for the three state seats of Sulabayan, Senallang and Bugaya within the Semporna constituency.
His brother is Silam Umno chief Datuk Yusof Apdal, currently the Lahad Datu assemblyman.
Although Barisan has yet to officially indicate the candidates for Semporna, incumbent Senallang assemblyman Datuk Seri Nasir Tun Sakaran and Semporna Umno treasurer Datuk Razak Tun Sakaran are expected to be shortlisted.
Sakaran’s grandson Marzuki, 38, who is Nasir’s son, could also be among the new faces in the Barisan lineup to check Shafie.