MANY candidates are running for the Batu parliamentary seat because they believe that the incumbent is inexperienced, stakeholders said.

Observers told The Malaysian Insight the challengers are under the impression that P. Prabakaran is too “raw and fresh” to handle the huge urban constituency and its issues.

They also pointed to the tension between former two-time PKR lawmaker Tian Chua and Prabakaran as a major factor for other political parties to target the seat.

They added that even independents seem to think that they stand a better chance to do one over Prabakaran, who himself won the seat as an independent in the last general election.

In 2018, then incumbent Tian Chua was disqualified from standing. However he and PKR had backed Prabakaran to win the seat with a strong majority. Prabakaran, a law student with a record of being the youngest MP in the country, then joined PKR.

However ,in recent years the relationship between Tian Chua and Prabakaran worsened, which also affected the local PKR division. In the party polls held earlier this year, Prabakaran defeated Tian Chua to become the division chief.

For the GE, Batu will see 10 candidates, including Tian Chua, who is contesting as an independent.

Iman Research programme director Badrul Hisyam Ismail said Tian Chua may feel he was the rightful candidate for the seat. 

“The other candidates may think Prabakaran is an easy target because he won with PKR supports him following Tian Chua’s failure to contest.

“Tian Chua, on the other hand, thinks he is the rightful candidate because it was his seat for two terms and he has his base in Batu.”

Ilham Centre’s Hisomudin Bakar said candidates are optimistic that they can wrestle the seat from PKR.

“For Batu, based on our study, the strength lies in the individual, not the party so much. Tian Chua, Siti Kasim and Prabakaran have connections with the people there.

“Tian Chua is a former MP and has done ground work in Batu, the same goes for Prabakaran and Siti Kasim. These three believe they have influence.”

International Islamic University Malaysia’s Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar said Batu attracted many candidates who think Prabakaran is a “raw” politician. 

“Prabakaran seems to be quite raw, and his GE14 victory was rather accidental because Tian Chua’s nomination was rejected. 

“Batu is a mixed constituency and the hopefuls could think that split votes would enhance their chances,” he said.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia academic Dr Mazlan Ali said the Batu demographics is also a factor for its many candidates.

“In an urban seat like Batu, the voters are more open and not afraid of change. It’s not so much because (the other candidates) think Prabakaran is an easy target. 

“But most of the candidates will only split the vote. Let’s see if Tian Chua and or another independent candidate like Siti Kasim can give PKR a fight,” he added.

Others in the race are A. Kohilan Pillay (Barisan Nasional-MIC), Azhar Yahya (Perikatan Nasional-PAS), Wan Azliana Wan Adnan (Gerakan Tanah Air-Pejuang), Nathan Pillai (Warisan) and Mohd Zulkifli Abdul Fattah (Parti Rakyat Malaysia).

Two other Independent candidates are social media influencer Nur Fathiah Syazwana Shaharudin (Cleopatra) and social activist Too Gao Lan.

Batu has 113,863 registered voters, a large chunk of them in the 21-49 age group.

Voters question candidates’ motives 

Batu resident Isaiah Jacob, 56, who lives in the Seri Murni flats, questioned the motives of so many candidates.

“Do they (candidates) think Prabakaran has not done anything? Most of them think he is a young boy’ but he has done a lot for the community here.

“We can’t deny he has helped the people here, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

“The parties, I understand, as they are fighting to form the government, but what is the aim of the Independents?”

Seri Aman flat resident Mohamed Nawaz Koya, 50 said it is difficult to trust most of the candidates as they are unknown.

“What the people want is a young person. We will give a chance to the youth. 

“The (nine) candidates are here to reduce the majority. This we all know. They want to split the majority.”

He also dismissed claims that Prabakaran is still “raw”, adding the incumbent MP has gained experience since 2018. – November 7, 2022.