Tian Chua: Anwar's aura may help in Tambun but constant moving is not good

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim's move to contest in Tambun may have a positive impact due to his aura but constantly moving candidates around doesn't allow a relationship with voters to develop, said former party vice-president Tian Chua.

Speaking in a live interview conducted by Media Mulia, Chua (above) said that voters could also get confused.

"For Anwar to go to Tambun, it's good with his image and aura. However, always moving around doesn’t give enough time to build a relationship with the constituents there.

"Leaders can move around, but voters may find it confusing. They might see us as people who only show up during election season to get their votes," said Chua, who is not being fielded as a candidate in the forthcoming 15th general election.

Anwar was previously Permatang Pauh MP from 1982 to 1999 and in a second spell from 2008 to 2015. He was most recently Port Dickson MP, from 2018 to 2022.

In the 2018 general election, Chua backed independent P Prabakaran after he was disqualified from contesting the Batu parliamentary seat but the gulf between them grew after the Sheraton Move.

Chua was sidelined due to his association with former PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, who defected to Bersatu.

In May, Prabakaran defeated Chua in a heated battle for the post of PKR Batu division chief.

Asked whether he would support Prabakaran in the coming polls, Chua was coy on the matter.

"That is a leadership decision to field him in Batu. I have my own thoughts. This is a chance for him to get his own mandate using his own strength.

“Last time around, it was indirect because he was an independent who won with Pakatan Harapan’s support. They were going to vote for me.

"It's difficult to say whether I will help him out directly in his campaign. I have my own views about his performance. I would like to have voters make the decision themselves.

“They don't need to hear my recommendations. Prabakaran needs to prove he has the people's support," Chua said.

On that note, the PKR veteran said that being dropped from the general election did not come as a surprise to him.

"I knew a short while before the naming (of the candidates). I knew there was a possibility I would be dropped. I am more concerned about whether we in Harapan can enjoy the same level of support and success that we enjoyed in GE14," he added.

MCA reaches agreement on seat exchange, to contest in Batu

Most Sabah Umno defectors not being fielded again

Batu seat: 6 and counting, Tian Chua gets poetic

PKR to revise Sungai Buloh candidate after BN named KJ

PKR moots democracy incentive for first-time voters