I'm fulfilling my promise to Batu voters, says Tian Chua
Tian Chua will be contesting as an independent candidate against PKR's P Prabakaran in Batu
"I promised Batu voters that I will come back. I also told them to support whoever was going to be the MP in Batu because I could not contest in GE14.
"I am now fulfilling my promise," he told Sinar Daily.
He said it is clear that voters trusted his words and accepted P Prabakaran, the new independent in 2018 who contested under the PKR ticket.
"I told my voters, voting for him was the same as voting me. I told them wait for me to come back to serve you."
Tian Chua added he had also told voters to back Prabakaran as he did not want a hung Parliament in GE14.
"The feedback I received from the ground now shows people want me to fulfil my promises made in 2018," he added.
He said Prabakaran will now have to show that he could win "as the previous victory was due to my full backing. He won on my mandate. Now he has to win on his own mandate."
Tian Chua who was behind bars under Internal Security Act (ISA) from 2000 to 2002 contested in Batu in 2004. He lost by over 10,000 majority.
"But I continued to stay on to build my base," he said. Tian Chua won the Batu seat in 2008 and in 2013. However, he was disqualified from running in 2018 general election due to a RM2,000 fine from a court case.
Tian Chua endorsed Prabakaran, an independent running on a PKR ticket who went on to win the 14th general election and who joined the party shortly after.
Tian Chua further assured he will not be a "bargaining" chip for any political block to support them.
"There must have a good and rational reason and my conscious must be clear."
Anwar and I will remain friends
Earlier today, PKR President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Tian Chua can consider himself sacked from the party after choosing to go against Prabakaran.
“He has been a dedicated reformist, but as a reformist, he (Tian Chua) shouldn’t have done this. So we have to take the necessary action," Anwar told reporters after filing his own nomination papers to contest in Tambun.
But Tian Chua said he has been with PKR for two decades and "I admire Anwar's struggle. We will remain friends regardless whatever happens.
"As president he has to follow rules and regulations. He is expressing as an official and as a party president. I can understand his disappointement being let down by a friend," said Tian Chua.
However, the former party vice-president said he wants to fulfil his promise to the people made in 2018.
"I will follow the instruction of the people rather than party. If there is a contradiction between the people and the party, I will follow the rakyat," Tian Chua added.
Others who will be contesting the Batu seat include lawyer Siti Kasim (independent), Wan Azliana Wan Adnan (Pejuang), Azhar Yahya (Perikatan Nasional) and A Kohilan Pillay (Barisan Nasional).
