Can Tian Chua fulfil his promise to Batu voters despite party disapproval?

Question

Accepted Answer

Tian Chua is contesting the Batu seat to fulfil a promise to voters, despite PKR's decision not to field him and his readiness to face party consequences.

Chua Tian Chang, widely known as Tian Chua, has decided to contest the Batu parliamentary seat in the 15th general election (GE15) to honour a pledge made to the constituency's voters in 2018. This decision places him in direct opposition to the official PKR candidate for the seat, P. Prabakaran, and Tian Chua acknowledges he is prepared to accept any disciplinary action from the party leadership. He maintains that his commitment to fulfilling this promise to the public takes precedence over his personal standing within the party.
Contesting to Honour a Past Commitment

Tian Chua stated that his decision to run for the Batu seat again is driven by a promise he made to the voters during the 14th general election (GE14) in 2018. At that time, he was unable to contest due to what he described as a "conspiracy." He expressed a dilemma between adhering to his promise to the constituents and respecting the party's decision not to nominate him. Ultimately, he felt compelled by his sense of integrity and sincerity to prioritise the voters' wishes.
Unwavering Party Affiliation Despite Disapproval

Despite contesting independently and against PKR's official candidate, Tian Chua has confirmed that he has not left the party. He described having a "strong emotional attachment" to PKR and expressed continued support for its leaders, including president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and deputy president Rafizi Ramli. He believes that, in spirit, he remains aligned with PKR and the Pakatan Harapan coalition, focusing on the objective of defeating Barisan Nasional (BN).
Readiness to Face Party Repercussions

Tian Chua has publicly stated his willingness to accept any action the PKR leadership may decide to take regarding his independent candidacy. He indicated that his personal position is secondary to the overarching goal of winning the election and serving the people. He expressed hope that differences could be resolved later, after the election, and that the focus should remain on defeating BN and reasserting the people's sovereignty.
Support from Constituents

Upon arriving at the nomination centre, Tian Chua was accompanied by approximately 100 supporters. These supporters, some wearing white shirts bearing his image and the slogan "I'm back," rallied behind him, chanting his name. The incumbent Batu MP, P. Prabakaran, is PKR's officially endorsed candidate for the Batu seat in GE15.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Can Tian Chua fulfil his promise to Batu voters despite party disapproval?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends