Tian Chua says lost because Batu voted for party, not person


Noel Achariam

Former Batu member of parliament Tian Chua says voters wanted an alternative to Barisan Nasional and rejected Ismail Sabri Yaakob leadership and government. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, November 29, 2022.

FORMER Batu member of parliament (MP) Tian Chua attributed his defeat in the general election to voters voting for the party instead of the candidate.

The former PKR vice-president, who stood as an independent candidate, said the people this time around wanted to get rid of the old regime so they voted for the Pakatan Harapan.

“In this GE the people wanted an alternative to Barisan Nasional and rejected Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s leadership and government.

“We see that most of the non-Malays supported PH because they wanted them to be the government.”

“I accept it (defeat),” the former two-term Batu MP told The Malaysian Insight.”

In a 10-way fight for the Batu seat, the Pakatan Harapan candidate from PKR, P. Prabakaran won by a majority of 22,241 votes, far ahead of Tian Chua who only got 4,603 votes.

In 2018, Prabakaran won the seat as an independent with the support of Tian Chua and PKR, and then joined the party.

However, over the years, their relationship has deteriorated. In recent party polls, Prabakaran defeated Tian Chua to be the Batu PKR division chief.

Tian Chua said the people voted for PH because in their view the coalition is more inclusive and accommodating of a pluralistic society

“The situation is different now (GE) as the people want to see PH back in government.

“Whoever wants to be an MP must get the mandate from the people. So, the PH candidate (Prabakaran) received the mandate because people wanted to see a PH government.

“However, I disagree with the process of just placin people (to contest) just to become government.”

He also added that it was a “tsunami” against Ismail’s government.

“The non-Malays wanted PH and the Malays wanted a government which is still protective of their interests but a cleaner one (Perikatan Nasional).”

Former PKR vice-president Tian Chua says he is still a PKR member as he has not received any letter to state he was sacked. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, November 29, 2022.

Still PKR member

Tian Chua said in theory he is still a PKR member as he has not received any letter to state he was sacked.

“I think it would be unnecessary for PKR to pursue this route (sack him). Trying to take action against someone who has a dissenting voice.”

“If the party decides to take action, then I’m responsible for my actions and prepared to accept it.”

“I have only received a show cause letter, so I leave it to the leadership to decide.”

He also said the issue about betraying the party never existed as he always stood by the principles of the party.

“If they say that I went against the party, then now, those who went against the party are now in the government.”

“These were the people that fought against PKR in the last election and have now joined the government.”

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim ejected Tian Chua from the party on nomination day, for standing as an independent and challenging incumbent Prabakaran.

Tian Chua said that at the moment he was not interested in joining any political party.

“I’m a founding member of PKR so the party’s idealism and principles are very much instilled in me.”

“Whether I’m a PKR member or not, I subscribe wholeheartedly to the party’s principles. The main thing is to be loyal to the party’s founding principles which are committed to multiracialism, fair and just society and other principles.”

Tian Chua said that everyone should start to work on reforms whether they support the reformasi movement or not.

“This is reflected now in this grand coalition where they are former ruling parties or antagonists against the reformists.”

“They now have a role to play in reforms. Every section of the government should start reforms.”

Change must happen for the economy, intellectual fielding in government structure, law and many other things. – November 29, 2022.


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