Party’s pick but more practical for me to contest Batu, says Tian Chua

Noel Achariam Noel Achariam Updated 6 years ago · Published on 28 Nov 2019 7:00AM · 9 Comments

The Election Commission was wrong to bar Tian Chua from contesting in last year’s general election, rules the court and he is eligible to stand in future elections. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, November 28, 2019.

CHUA Tian Chang has broken his silence on the tussle over the Batu parliamentary seat, saying he is the most practical choice for his former constituency.

The PKR vice-president, better known as Tian Chua, told The Malaysian Insight this is because he is well-known among the constituents and has good rapport with them.

“It is up to the party to choose the candidate but for me, it would be most practical to continue to serve Batu,” he said.

“The people know me. I have not only developed a close relationship with them, there is also a lot of personal attachment to community leaders and the folks here.”

He is special adviser to Works Minister Baru Bian and also the Malaysia Productivity Corporation chairman.

Chua is back in the game after the court recently ruled that the Election Commission had erred in barring him from contesting in last year’s general election.

It also said that the former two-term Batu MP is eligible to stand in future elections.

Following the court ruling, there have been calls for the Batu MP P. Prabakaran to step down to make way for a by-election in the urban seat.

However, the 23-year-old, the youngest Malaysian lawmaker, has indicated that he would prefer to serve out the term.

Prabakaran won last year as an independent on a campaign supported by PKR. He later joined the party.

Tian Chua says one should not expect the inexperienced P. Prabakaran to offer the level of service he did to Batu folk. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, November 28, 2019.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has said there is no need for Prabakaran to relinquish the seat to make way for Chua.

Anwar said the issue is yet to be discussed by the party leadership.

“Prabakaran has a mandate from the people and we will have to respect that while Tian Chua is an important party leader,” he said.

Chua told The Malaysian Insight he would be running in the next general election but declined to respond when asked if Parabakaran should serve a full term.

“We (PKR) have to put the right candidate to serve the people. I can do that for Batu but if the party has other thoughts (other seats), we can discuss it.”

He said it is difficult to expect the inexperienced Prabakaran to provide the level of service he did.

“It requires a lot of experience to tackle the issues here. It is difficult to keep up the same level of service that I had provided.

“It is not fair to expect him, as a first-term MP, to maintain that (level of service). It requires a lot of experience.”

He said urban voters are demanding and they expect their MP to always be around to attend to their needs.

“I was here for two terms and there would have been a third (if not for the bar against him contesting).

“He has big shoes to fill. He has to know that the urban voters are more demanding.” – November 28, 2019.

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Comments

  • Wait for GE15. With Chinese sentiments against PH now, PH cannot afford to lose another by- election.

    Posted 6 years ago by Sidney Karan · Reply

  • Tian Chua, you are good, no one denying but at the same time you must understand, Batu does not belongs to you permanently. You made Praba to win in HE14 but now dont force him to resign. You should wait for GE15, if you want to potray your leadership otherwise people will know you as a self interest politicians in a same basket with Azmin.

    Posted 6 years ago by Anak Malaysia · Reply

  • Another ULAR Sawah like Azmin. Cakap bodoh as if Praba is still drinking bottle milk. These type of politicians, like Azmin, Bomba Lady and Tian Chuah are really pain in the arse.

    Posted 6 years ago by Swaminaidu Venkatasamy · Reply

  • You are a useless pimp given lots of responsibility and please just focus on some of your present responsibility. Even if you run in Batu, I can assure you that you will lose badly. I would like to see you stupidly try that

    Posted 6 years ago by Mike Mok · Reply

  • No need for another by-election. wait for GE15. Serve the people now in your current capacity and as Praba's mentor

    Posted 6 years ago by Geraldine Jambu · Reply

  • Please... call for by election and LOSE big time.

    Posted 6 years ago by A Subscriber · Reply

  • Greed. The way PH is performing even you cannot win if you stand there. So please dont rock the boat. Let the young man continue, after all didnt PH say they need to groom the young ones to lead the country?

    Posted 6 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • Tian Chua, you can still serve the Batu Constituants without being an MP. Social service doesnt require positions. All politicians were once first Term MPs. Anyway Prabakharan was an independent MP when he contested. You can ask him to leave PKR but you have no right to ask him to resign. He can opt out to join MIC.

    Posted 6 years ago by Aplanaidu Pathanaidu · Reply

  • Let him serve full term, with your mentoring. Thrn next GE, you can chose to contest there and let him contest elsewhere.

    Posted 6 years ago by Your Grandpa · Reply