I will follow PKR's fight for democracy, justice, not individual leaders, says Tian Chua

SHAH ALAM - PKR vice-president Tian Chua rose to fame in the late 90s when images of him sitting defiantly in front of a police water cannon truck were splashed across the global during the height of the reformasi movement in 1998.

In a 2007 demonstration in front of the Parliament, Tian Chua was alleged to bit a police constable's arm which had led to him being charged two years later and sentenced to his six-month jail and RM3,000 fine but upon his appeal, the High Court had later reduced it to just a RM2,000 fine in 2010.

This saw him being disqualified from the 2018 general elections.

He had also endured a water bottle being thrown at him by party members for allegedly colluding with Cabinet Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali that saw the sudden collapse of Pakatan Harapan (PH) through Sheraton move in 2020.

However, Tian Chua has maintained that he did not inflict any violence against law enforcers as they were doing their duties while adding that the most important principle in politics is not to waver from facing challenges.

“We have to stand firm regardless of whatever challenges.

“The struggle for democracy and reform is actually a long-term struggle,” he told Sinar Daily.

He further added that the political situation in Malaysia is still better off than in other neighboring countries such as Indonesia and Myanmar.

“I'm actually grateful. We in Malaysia, as compared to our neighboring countries, are relatively much fortunate to be thrown with a bottle of water and dispersed with tear gas because in a country such as Indonesia and under the military dictatorship of Myanmar, they need to sacrifice lives for democracy,” he said.

However, he also said that PKR which was almost wiped out in Melaka and Johor state elections is facing setbacks and that the members should not feel disheartened or frustrated due to the circumstances that they are in.

Tian Chua said PKR must continue to be the forerunner not only to champion the rights of the people, to forge unity within different races in the country and unite opposition parties as the country faces upcoming general elections.

“I think PKR must go back to our founding principle which is inclusivity and respect of differences, and we were once the leaders of the coalition and now in facing the upcoming general elections, PKR must take initiative to unite all the opposition parties to ensure we will gain victory for the next general election,” he said.

Tian Chua also pointed out that no party in Malaysia may be strong enough to take over the government in the 15th general elections. “No single party will be strong enough to rule Malaysia, we must always have coalitions,” he added.

When asked about his decision not to contest in the ongoing PKR elections, he said being one of the core leaders of the party also means he does not have to hold a position to contribute to the development of the party.

“I believe that even though I'm not contesting in any post, I will still be able to play an active role in the party leadership and currently what PKR needs is unity and consensus,” said the former party vice-president.

Adding to that, he said he is willing to support the leaders who can provide such leadership and his absence in the party top leadership does not mean there are holes in the leadership.

“By not participating in the vice-president race which already has 17 contenders, and my absence does not necessarily mean there will be a vacuum of leadership.

“Instead, my intention was to reduce tension and the heat that generated in intense competition which I believe will benefit the party,” he said.

He also stressed that there is no such thing as him picking sides with any individual in the party as what has been indicated by the media and it would be unfair to label him as belonging to any fraction in the party.

“I was the founding leader of the party since it was formed in 1999, just like Azmin and party number 2 candidate Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution, we were leaders and comrades together. We worked together to build the party and we were able to deliver a big in 2018.

“Azmin was Selangor Menteri Besar and the deputy president. For me to stand side by side with him in the last GE was to ensure PH led by PKR would overthrow Barisan Nasional's six decades of political monopoly.

“The principle of PKR is to fight for democracy and justice, and I will only follow those principles but not any individual leaders,” he added.