IT is too early to endorse another candidate in his place, said Batu incumbent Tian Chua, who was disqualified from participation in the elections on nomination day yesterday.

The PKR vice-president, who would be looking to hold the seat for the third term, said he was consulting his legal advisers on the next course of action to take, The Star Online reported today.

“We do not simply endorse any candidate like that. We want people who fight for our struggle and agenda for change. If there are any circumstances where we endorse another candidate, the candidate must first accept our principles. Otherwise we are irresponsible by recommending candidates who are not consistent with the objective of our struggle,” Tian Chua said at Bersih 2.0 headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

“I will wait for my legal team to finalise our strategy then we can talk about what step to take in Batu.”

Tian Chua was disqualified from contesting in the elections by Returning Officer Anwar Zain on grounds of a RM2,000 fine he received on March 2 from the Shah Alam High Court.

Tian Chua has filed a police report against Anwar for rejecting the Shah Alam High Court’s decision.

With him out of contention for now, the Batu parliamentary seat will now be contested by Gerakan vice-president Dominic Lau, Batu PAS chief Azhar Yahya and independent candidates  P. Prabakaran and Panjamorthy Muthusamy. – April 29, 2018.