GE14 | A straw poll of Batu voters revealed deep divisions over how Pakatan Harapan supporters are reacting to the disqualification of incumbent Batu MP Tian Chua (above) from the coming 14th general election.

Some of the voters told Malaysiakini that they are no longer planning to vote or will spoil their vote as a sign of protest against Chua’s treatment.

Others said 22-year-old independent candidate P Prabakaran was the next best choice.

Those polled seemed sure that PAS’ Azha Yahya or the other independent candidate M Panjamothy, a former Batu MIC leader, will not be considered by the electorate.

A minority said they would be voting for BN’s Dominic Lau on the grounds that a BN candidate would likely bring more development and funding to the constituency.

Read more: Hundreds show their support for Tian Chua at vigil

When met at the Sentul market, retiree V Rajan, 60, said he was inclined to vote for Prabakaran and hoped that this candidate will be “adopted” by Harapan.

He said the other candidates were out of the question for him especially the PAS candidate because of the party's support for the implementation of hudud law.

Wong, a noodle stall operator in Jalan Ipoh, said she would prefer the youngest candidate of the lot.

"I am not going to vote for BN or PAS. I don't want hudud," she said.

As for the BN backers, Chua’s disqualification does not bother them as they said they wanted an MP which would help them in various ways.

For instance, hawker K Ranjiny (photo), 28, said she and her family will vote for BN because BN provides financial aid.

Stationary shop owner Liew Teong Boon, 64, who runs his business a few doors away from Chua’s operations centre, said he will vote for BN this time around because of the inefficacy of an opposition MP.

"The opposition representatives cannot do anything because the government is not going to entertain them. That's why I will vote for BN this time," Liew said.

Batu is a mixed-ethnicity constituency in north Kuala Lumpur with 43 percent Malays, 38 percent Chinese and 17 percent Indians electorate. There are a total of 76,328 voters there.

Chua was disqualified by returning officer Anwar Mohd Zain on nomination day on Saturday on the basis that he was fined RM2,000 by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on March 2.

He filed a challenge at the High Court today against the EC on his disqualification.

On Saturday, his argument that a similar fine in 2010 did not result in his disqualification for the 2013 polls and that he had served two full terms as an MP was not accepted by the returning officer.

'Lost our hero'

Chua is expected to make a special address to Batu constituents tonight.

This address may contain crucial instructions to organise Harapan backers in Batu, which based on the straw poll, are looking for direction.

M Saravanan, a 49-year-old security guard, said Tian Chua's disqualification has now become a hot-button issue in the constituency.

"Everywhere I go to, the coffee shop, the lottery shop or the grocery store, the people are talking about it. A lot of people are sad," he said.

Refusing to reveal whom he would vote for, Saravanan said a miracle could happen and he would vote based on his conscience.

Housewife Norhayati Abdul Wahib (photo), 50, who resides in Kampung Padang Balang, nearly sobbed when she spoke of Chua.

"It is so sad. We have lost our hero. He is a true hero for our kampung because no one had ever fought like him (to keep our houses from the) landowner. Thank you for being our hero.

"He comes to our place every week, attends our kenduri and tahlil. He knows everybody here and we all love him," Norhayati said.

"EC has not been fair to us because Tian Chua has been doing a fantastic job.

"I have been transferred to Wangsa Maju, where I will vote for his colleague (Tan Yee Kew)," she added.