Sons Carry Fathers' Legacy

KUALA LUMPUR, 21 Feb (Bernama) -- Although retired from politics, the legacy of a former prime minister and two former presidents of Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties will go on in this election.
Among those named as candidates today is a son of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Datuk Mukhriz, 44. He will be contesting in Jerlun parliamentary seat in Kedah.
A son of former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, Datuk Ling Hee Leong, has also been named as the BN candidate for Gopeng parliamentary seat, replacing former MCA secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Ting Chew Peh.
Hee Leong, 39, is the MCA Youth deputy chief.
Gerakan will also see Lim Si Pin, 38, the son of former president Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, contesting the Batu parliamentary seat here. The financial manager of a security firm is the Gerakan Youth deputy chief.
They are among sons of five BN leaders or former leaders who have been selected to contest in the March 8 general election.
Former Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, who resigned from the government and party posts early this year, would be replaced by his son Chua Tee Yong, 31, an accountant, in the Labis parliamentary seat.
Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud decided not to defend his Kota Samarahan parliamentary seat this time around to give way to his son Datuk Seri Sulaiman, 39.
Sulaiman, a business administration degree holder from the University of San Francisco and a well-known corporate figure in the country, is also the chairman of Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd group of companies.
With the participation of Mukhriz, who is the Umno Youth executive councillor, all former prime ministers except for Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, would have their children carrying on their legacy in the country's political arena.
They are Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
Meanwhile, Datuk Zakaria Mat Deros, whose luxury mansion created a controversy, has been dropped from the list of candidates but will see his daughter-in-law Roslinda Abdul Jamil replacing him in the Pelabuhan Klang state seat.
The opposition parties also saw children of political leaders contesting in the election including DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng in Bagan parliamentary seat in Penang.
His father Lim Kit Siang, who is also DAP advisor, is expected to defend his Ipon Timur parliamentary seat.
A son of DAP chairman Karpal Singh, Gobind, is also expected to contest in this election, probably in Johor.
There were also talks that Nurul Izzah, the daughter of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, would be contesting in Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat.
Her mother, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is PKR president is expected to defend her parliamentary seat in Permatang Pauh in Penang.

tunku : of all the names above,those parents or in-laws are still actively involve in the party or government should not contest.one more person name missing here and that is kj which till this moment 99% sure to contest in Rembau.