Two siblings from different parties compete for Kukusan seat in Sabah election, maintaining family bonds while pursuing political goals
TAWAU: Siblings from opposing political parties are competing against each other for the Kukusan state seat in the 17th Sabah State Election.
Chaya Sulaiman represents Barisan Nasional while her younger brother Ma’mun stands for Parti Warisan, both driven by the goal of championing Sabahans’ welfare.
Chaya confirmed their electoral contest and differing political ideals will not affect their sibling relationship.
“I’m carrying BN’s banner and he is carrying his own party’s flag,” she told reporters at the nomination centre at Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina Yuk Cin.
“Family members contesting against each other in elections in the Kalabakan parliamentary constituency is nothing new.”
She emphasized they are contesting professionally, with the election serving as a platform for voters to choose their representative.
Ma’mun echoed that their family bonds remain intact despite the political competition.
“In the 2018 General Election, I contested the Kalabakan parliamentary seat under Warisan against BN’s late Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh,” he recalled.
“My sister was working in his campaign team at the time, and I won the seat.”
He noted this pattern continued in 2022 when he faced BN’s Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandi with Chaya again on the opposing team.
“Perhaps it’s fate that we now cross paths in the Kukusan seat,” Ma’mun added.
The siblings are among 10 contenders for Kukusan, including incumbent Datuk Rina Jainal who previously represented Warisan but is running as an independent.
Another sibling rivalry unfolds in the Petagas seat within Putatan parliamentary constituency.
Awang Husaini Sahari contests under Pakatan Harapan against his older brother Awang Ahmad Sah.
The incumbent Awang Ahmad Sah is running as an independent after not being renominated by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah.
Seventy-three state seats will be contested in the Sabah election with early voting on November 25 and polling day on November 29. – Bernama
