LAWYER Charles Chow has quit Gerak Independent (GI) and said he will not stand for election in the next national polls, just four days after announcing his intention to contest the Subang seat.

“I will not be running as an independent candidate for the parliamentary seat of Subang, Selangor.

“Our goals are aligned in that we want to put things right in our country, including enhancing the integrity of Parliament, but we differ on the ways of achieving those goals.

“I wish my friends in GI all the best in their endeavour,” he said in a brief statement this evening.

Last Thursday, GI, a joint initiative promoting independent candidates for the general election, announced that it will field candidates for six constituencies: Siti Kassim (Batu), Chow (Subang), activist K.J. John (Petaling Jaya), Raveentheran Suntheralingam (Wangsa Maju) and Sabah-based lawyer Roland Cheng (Kota Kinabalu).

GI said it was open to forming strategic alliances with other parties or individuals to further its cause, adding that it ultimately aims to make the country fair to all.

Siti said the group was throwing its hat into the ring as nothing would change by just being a civil society group in Malaysia, if it seeks to implement good policies and reform the system.

“Why is it that they (civil society groups) fight for these issues but nothing has changed, or at least a little change?

“This is despite them making a lot of presentations to the government, meeting with ministers, being involved in roundtable discussions, and all that. Why?”

“Only parliament can change the policies and the laws that are being implemented in Malaysia.

“This is why I keep saying, if you want change in Malaysia, you have to have good people in Parliament then only will you get good policies,” Siti said. – February 21, 2022.