PKR went overboard in sacking members loyal to defectors, says Tian Chua

Ravin Palanisamy Ravin Palanisamy Updated 3 years ago · Published on 31 May 2020 7:00AM · 13 Comments

Tian Chua says the PKR rebellion led by Mohamed Azmin Ali in February should have been prevented and their differences and grievances resolved within the party. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, May 31, 2020.

PKR members supporting leaders who jumped ship to Perikatan Nasional should not be punished, PKR vice-president Chua Tian Chang said.

Chua, better known as Tian Chua, he said these members had no part in the political turmoil that toppled the Pakatan Harapan government and had been merely supportive of the leaders they followed.

“You can’t take action against members who are supportive of any party leaders. That is wrong.

“Ordinary members can be supportive of A, B, or C…. but they should not have (to suffer the) consequences of the change in government,” he told The Malaysian Insight, referring to disciplinary action against members for remaining loyal to leaders instrumental in the collapse of the PH government in February.

Then PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali and then vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin led 10 other MPs out of PKR, nine of which eventually joined Bersatu.

Chua said PKR members understandably feel betrayed by the defections and switch of support to Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister, but the party’s move to eject more than 300 members and suspend 300 more, as announced by communications director Fahmi Fadzil on May 4, was “overboard”.

“The whole argument is about MPs in PKR crossing over and changing sides, causing the previous government to topple.

“So there is no reason to punish ordinary members for this.

“You can warn them, give them whatever advice or they can try to educate them saying that certain MPs have done wrong. That is OK, but to take (such) action – I think it is overboard,” the former Batu MP said.

Chua, who casts himself as mediator and peacemaker between rival internal factions, said the party has for too long been associated with disunity and factionalism.

He said Azmin had been a strong supporter of party president Anwar Ibrahim and that there should not be a “team Anwar” and a “team Azmin”.

“Who else is a stronger supporter of Anwar than Tian Chua? Who else is a stronger supporter of Anwar than Azmin Ali? How are you going to say we are not supporters of Anwar?

“If we were not supporters of Anwar, how could we have spent 20 years of our lives with him and defending him?” Chua said, referring to the early days of the party, which was formed after Anwar was sacked as deputy prime minister and expelled from Umno in 1998, before he was charged with corruption and sodomy.

“I don’t want to say Azmin is not Anwar’s supporter. How can one say that? That doesn’t make sense. He was one of Anwar’s supporters,” he said.

Chua did not reply directly to questions about talk that former PKR leaders and sacked party members has plans to form a new party for the next general election.

Until the party is formalised, its would-be members are in two civil society groups, Penggerak Komuniti Negara and Pemuda Negara.

Chua also dissociated himself from the so-called Sheraton Move – the February 23 meeting of Muhyiddin’s Bersatu faction and PKR defectors with Barisan Nasional and PAS to form a new coalition – saying that he had nothing to do with it.

“I don’t care what they say and I’m not worried about what people call me. They can call me whatever. I have enough of a track record to show my contribution to the party.

“However, as far as I’m concerned, the split should not have happened,” he said.

Instead the disagreements, even the rivalry between Anwar and Azmin, should have been treated as the typical political differences that arise between colleagues.

“It doesn’t require infighting and dividing into camps within the party.

“PKR is a very pluralistic party. We have a movement that consists of people with different ideologies, different backgrounds. So, definitely we have a lot of differences. That is natural,” he said.

Chua, who is no longer an MP, is currently focused on starting a platform for volunteers to provide community assistance.

He said such assistance was needed now, especially in a time of pandemic.

The yet-to-be-named social project will be launched after Hari Raya, he said. – May 31, 2020.

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Comments

  • TC, what happened was treacherous!! You are either with the party or not!! The past is the past, it has nothing to do with the future.
    Unite or leave !!

    Posted 3 years ago by Stanley Sinnappen · Reply

  • Its time for you to get lost too Tian. Allowing people who continue to support and justify the actions of the traitors to be members of any party is not acceptable. The issue is clear. If they continue to support or justify the undefensible actions of traitors who betrayed the Rakyat's mandate, then they don't deserve to be forgiven. If they see the light of the day and condemn the actions of the traitors in no uncertain terms, then they should be given another chance to contribute to the party. Otherwise these people are like cancerous tumours that have to be cut off permanently and from the tone of your arguments and the points raised, I don't see genuine regret for your supporting the traitors. Better for you to just leave and join your idol AA rather than wait to be sacked. Or are you trying to cause more damage from within before you are sacked?

    Posted 3 years ago by Mike Mok · Reply

  • Tian Chua is no longer relevant in our eyes. No one cares what he has to say. He can start whatever he wants but he wont get the peoples support.

    Posted 3 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • just go join assmin and geng longkang. dont try to be a saint. just go away. we, also supported you for years but you betrayed us which ever way you choose to see

    Posted 3 years ago by . . · Reply

  • It all started with the Kajang move. Kak Wan was picked as prospectiVe MB. WHO disagreed? This is a key question. This is how PKR was spilt by outsiders on what? Position of MB. The real face of Azmin revealed by tolerated for party unity or still financially dependent ? Khalid ibrahin settled his tens of million debt overnight? MB has his way with the authority entrusted on him. Apparently lawyer engaged to handle the deal was unable to reVeal anything. Overseas settlement? Azmin after few years as MB, also found his way out. Once pocket has enough bullet,and tasted the rewards of state CEO, his political courage and ambition mounted to no limit. Openly disagreed Anwar succession as PM is a decision of no return. PKR should have expelled Azm8n by then. There is a limit to political tolerance in a party. SO, SUSPEND OR SACKED THE FEW HUNDREDS US POLITICALOY A RIGHT MOVE. Once PKR acted with good principles, losing a few hundreds is nothing. There will be thousands new capable, competent and qualified members joining to support PKR polit8cal ideology. Tian Chua is a good leader but losing him has practically no impact to the party. PKR must demonstrate to the public as a trustworthy and competent political party.

    Posted 3 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • Falling stars cannot save those which follow suit, can they?

    Posted 3 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • A country like Malaysia has his Majesty's Government and his Loyal Opposition. Being in the Opposition does not necessarily make one disloyal to the YDPA or the Country. This is how the system works. Working with outsiders to destroy the Country is. Similarly, having a different vision for the Party and wanting to lead the Party is normal and part and parcel of being a politician. Betraying the Party's principles and its voters and switching sides is nothing but treachery and is akin to treason. Asmin and the likes of you have done exactly that. So go and join or form another party that is more in lines with your vision of how the Country is to be run. Obviously, you and the likes of Asmin does not subscribe to the Party's principle. Just go.

    Posted 3 years ago by Yoon Kok · Reply

  • Tian Chua, don't talk in circle. Call a spade a spade. Assmin use to be Anwar supporter until he had higher ambitions at which point he is no longer an Anwar supporter.

    I agree the grassroots supporters of Assmin need not answer to the disciplinary committee but senior leaders like yourself would need to at least answer to a show cause letter.

    Posted 3 years ago by Super Duper · Reply

  • Many used to admire your tenacity and exemplary actions as a politician through the times. Age has probably changed you, how and why you chose to be with the devil AA that has demolished the people's choice is beyond acceptance. You have not shown an iota of regret what AA and his cohorts usurped the millions of voters' choice. The only logical move is for you and your supporters to leave peacefully. Your last chapter in PKR.

    Posted 3 years ago by Justin Leno · Reply

  • Chua you're talking COCK!

    Posted 3 years ago by Swaminaidu Venkatasamy · Reply

  • TC until today, you have not give a strong statement condemning those pengkhianat. Why? Don't just play around with your politically coined words. As a voter I am fed up with you and pengkhianat. So, just get lost and don't ever dream to stand in Batu, as you will never make a comeback through Batu parliament.

    Posted 3 years ago by Anak Malaysia · Reply

  • Tian CHua ! Shut the f#*k up, you treacherous rat ! You are a liar, born liar and always have been a liar!

    Posted 3 years ago by Aran Thillainathan · Reply

  • CTC, you really CAN TALK COCK.

    Posted 3 years ago by Jacob Hong · Reply