PKR vice-president Tian Chua was released from prison today after serving a one-month sentence.

Chua said he was roused from his sleep by officials from Kajang Prison at 5am before being officially released at 7am.

His supporters had waited near a roadside stall before walking a short distance where they eventually met Chua who came out from his car near the prison.

Among those who welcomed his release outside Kajang Prison were PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali, who hugged him and joked that it must have been the first time that Chua had to wake up early.

Thanking Wan Azizah and Azmin for their support, Chua said he believes that he was released earlier than the scheduled time at 9am as police were worried about the planned gathering.

Chua, last month, withdrew his appeal in a charge brought against him for refusing to comply with a police order to leave the restricted Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in 2012 during Bersih 3 rally. He opted instead to serve the one-month prison sentence.

Meanwhile, Chua said he has somewhat experienced how it is for PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim through his one month in prison.

"(But) he has been spending more time (in prison)," said Chua on Anwar who is currently incarcerated for sodomy.

"I just want to state that in this fight, we may have to go to prison but this is a challenge we have to accept until we topple this regime," he added.

Apart from thanking Wan Azizah and Azmin, the Batu MP also thanked electoral reform group Bersih and his supporters. Chua, however, stressed that it was not only his freedom that counts.

"We cannot avoid making some sort of sacrifice when we want to fight in this undemocratic system," he told some 150 of his supporters who were present.

Chua later released a dove as a symbol of his release and freedom.

Also present today were PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin, PKR state assemblypersons Dr Xavier Jayakumar, Hee Loy Sian, Dr Daroyah Alwi and Elizabeth Wong. Bersih chief Maria Chin Abdullah, opposition activist Khairuddin Abu Hassan and Suaram activist Amir Abd Hadi were also present.

Later adjourning to a nearby roadside stall, Chua was inundated with handshakes, hugs and requests for photographs by his supporters.

While his weight loss seemed obvious, Chua however, told Malaysiakini that he "doesn't feel it".

"The food is okay, basic. I get two vegetables and one protein in my meals," he said.

He also finished reading 15 books, both fiction and non-fiction and also managed to read several chapters of the Quran, the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita.

Chua said he would be let out for one hour in the morning and another hour in the evening daily, and was visited by his lawyers once or twice weekly.

Of the prison officials, Chua believes that the wardens were sympathetic to his plight.

"They have done their best within whatever limit. They are friendly, I'm grateful for that".

Chua also confirmed that he will attend the tabling of Budget 2018 in Parliament later today.

Chua, in January 2014, was convicted in the Sessions Court under the Protected Areas and Places Act 1959 for refusing an order to leave the Pulapol complex along Jalan Semarak on April 29, 2012, a day after being arrested during the Bersih 3 rally in Kuala Lumpur.

He was sentenced to a one-month jail term and fined RM1,000. He paid the fine.

His appeal to the High Court was dismissed in November last year.