Rivalry in politics – but never at home
JOHOR BARU: Blood is thicker than water, as the saying goes, is true for brothers facing off in the general election.
Barisan Nasional’s Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad and his brother Khalid may be from different political camps but when it comes to family, they put their differences aside.
Shahrir, who is also Johor Baru MP, said it was no surprise that Shah Alam MP Khalid was an Amanah member.
“It is not a shocker because our family is very democratic,” he said after the launch of the Johor Barisan manifesto here yesterday.
Shahrir, 69, said the last time he saw his brother was at the Parliament meeting earlier this month.
“We greeted one another and after that, we went our separate ways.
“There is hardly a family gathering nowadays as we both have a busy schedule but even when we do meet up during an event, we never touch on political matters,” he said.
Shahrir, who is expected to defend his Johor Baru seat, said he had no idea if Khalid was contesting in Johor.
Penang Gerakan chairman Teng Chang Yeow said he was still close to his brother, DAP’s Datuk Teng Chang Khim, who is also a senior Selangor exco member.
Their uncle is former Tebrau MP Datuk Teng Boon Soon, an MCA leader in Johor.
There is talk that Chang Khim is being moved to the Kuala Kubu Baru state seat in Selangor while Chang Yeow will be contesting in Penang.
This polls will be the sixth time for the two brothers.
“It’s normal for my family. It has been like this for over 20 years. He is still close to me despite being in a different party.
“We don’t discuss serious politics. When we do discuss about politics, we don’t go into details,” he said yesterday.
MIC vicepresident Datuk T. Mohan and his brother, former Selangor DAP vicechairman T. Kannan, still live in the same house and even have breakfast together every morning.
Kannan, who is the younger brother, said outsiders found it strange that they could be on the opposite side of politics and still live under the same roof.
“We’re very professional. We know what to do. We don’t discuss politics in the house,” he said.
Mohan added that even if they did argue, the debates were always healthy.
He also said that former MIC president Tun S. Samy Vellu attend ed his brother’s wedding while DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang came for his own.
“This is the kind of relationship we have. Only just that when it comes to politics, we have different views,” he said.
Mohan confirmed that he would not be standing in the polls while Kannan, who last stood in the Kampung Tunku state seat in 1999, declined comment if he would be contesting this time.