PKR vice-president Tian Chua has filed a suit against the Election Commission for disqualifying him as a candidate for the Batu parliamentary seat.

He was barred from contesting because of a RM2,000 fine imposed on him by the Shah Alam High Court on March 2.

Returning officer Anwar Mohd Zain and the EC were named as the respondents.

Tian Chua’s lawyer, Ngeow Chow Ying, filed an originating summons in the Kuala Lumpur High Court this morning, challenging the returning officer’s decision on nomination day on Saturday to bar him from running in the 14th general election.

He is seeking a court declaration that he is qualified to defend Batu, a seat he has held since 2008.

The PKR lawmaker cited Article 48(1) of the federal constitution, which provides that a disqualification occurs when the fine exceeds RM2,000.

The Shah Alam High Court had upheld his conviction under Section 509 of the Penal Code for outraging the modesty of a police officer by using foul language, four years ago.

On March 9 last year, the Petaling Jaya sessions court had fined Tian Chua RM3,000 after he was found guilty of outraging the modesty of a deputy superintendent.

Batu will see a four-way battle between Gerakan vice-president Dominic Lau, Batu PAS chief Azhar Yahya, and independents P. Prabakaran and V.M. Panjamorthy Muthusamy. – April 30, 2018.