PKR senior leader tells Tian Chua to withdraw from Batu race immediately

GE15 | Perak PKR election operation centre spokesperson Lee Boon Chye called on former PKR vice-president Tian Chua to withdraw his candidacy in Batu immediately as political struggles should never be about personal interest.

He said that Chua should declare support to Pakatan Harapan’s candidate, P Prabakaran if he was serious about the continuation of the reformation spirit.

“First of all, his candidacy in Batu will dilute the votes of Harapan and benefit Barisan Nasional.

“In our political struggles, we have fought for reformation and democracy since 1999 without the YB (Yang Berhormat) title. Like myself, I only won as an MP in 2008.

“Despite I am no longer a YB as I paved my way to my successor (Tan Kar Hing), this does not mean that we cannot continue our struggles without a YB title.

“The party has made a decision on Batu (candidacy) and I hope (Tian Chua) he can withdraw his candidacy immediately,” Lee (above), the former Gopeng MP, stressed.  

At a press conference in Ipoh today at Ipoh, Lee said that Harapan may have the chance to achieve success again in this general election and make the party president Anwar Ibrahim to be the prime minister.

“This objective has not been achieved yet and we need to continue our struggle.

“Therefore, elections should never be about personal interest. If Chua still believes in the reformation spirit, he needs to withdraw himself from the election and support our candidate to win in Batu.

“This is my advice to him, not only from the party perspective but also as an old friend to him,” Lee added.

However, according to the Elections (Conduct of Elections) Regulation 1981, a candidate is not allowed to withdraw his/her candidature after 10am on the forenoon of the nomination day. 

Chua was the Batu MP for two terms from 2008 to 2018 but was disqualified from contesting in 2018 due to the High Court in Shah Alam High Court imposing a fine of RM2,000 on him.

This prompted him to back Prabakaran as Harapan’s proxy in that year’s election.

Chua defeated as Batu PKR chief

Prabakaran defeated Chua for the Batu PKR division chief post during internal party elections in May this year.

During the press conference, when members of the media mentioned that Chua has apologised to Anwar for going against the party pick on candidacy, Lee became a little bit emotional.

“He should not apologise to Anwar only but to all Batu voters and Malaysians that have supported him in the past.

“For, the past two decades, we have followed him to the street, to the kampung, to the jungle road and everywhere he went (during the reformasi era).

“How can you only apologise to Anwar?” he questioned.

Lee also urged Chua to look at the bigger picture and put the nation and people’s interests before his personal agenda.

Earlier today, the media reported that Chua apologised to Anwar Ibrahim for contesting as an independent candidate in Batu against his party's pick, Prabakaran.

He further claimed that there was nothing personal in his independent run as there was a need to ensure the continuation of the reformation spirit in the constituency and this reflected the sentiment on the ground.

This came after the PKR president said Chua would be automatically axed for contesting as an independent.

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