INCUMBENT Batu MP Chua Tian Chang, better known as Tian Chua, has endorsed 22-year-old law student P. Prabakaran, urging opposition supporters to deny the seat to Barisan Nasional by voting in the independent candidate.

“Besides PKR there is the ‘kunci’ (key) to Putrajaya. His symbol may be a key, but he is now in the family of Pakatan Harapan (PH),” Chua, who is PKR vice-president, told 500 supporters in Bandar Baru Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, last night.

“Barisan Nasional may want to defeat me, but it is they who will be defeated. Let us ensure victory in Batu,” he said to cheers and shouts of “Reformasi”.

Chua said he will still appeal his disqualification at the Court of Appeal. He was disqualified from contesting the Batu seat on nomination day. His appeal to the high court was dismissed yesterday and he was advised to file his suit by way of an election petition.

“This will take time and I ask my supporters to be patient.

“However, this is my promise to all the voters of Batu. I will always be with Prabakaran to carry out his duty as an MP.

“I will never leave Batu. I am committed to Batu and I will always stay with Batu. And I am telling you, I shall return. I will come back.”

He also recounted how his team approached Prabakaran, with the condition that he support Pakatan Harapan’s agenda for change.

“I did not know Prabakaran before this. He came with just 10 supporters to the nomination centre.

“I have met Prabakaran and his parents. I asked him: Why did you want to stand for election? He said he was just interested in joining politics and wanted to feel how it is like to participate in the democratic process.

“He is innocent and willing to join the political process. I like this sort of young person,” Chua said.

He said during the Reformasi period in 1998, he did not intend to contest in Batu, but followed Syed Hussin Ali to learn the ropes. He won the Batu seat in 2008 after failing in the 2004 election.

“I explained this history to Prabakaran. He does not understand many matters, but he said he is willing to learn from me as a pupil who just entered politics. I admire a young man who has such an open mind.

“They can use all sorts of dirty tactics but they can’t prevent me from fighting on. We will still fight on,” he said to cheers of “Lawan tetap lawan”.

“We cannot let Batu fall into the hands of Barisan Nasional. I know the people of Batu will not let that happen.” – May 5, 2018.