Keep differences internal, Tian Chua urges PKR members ahead of party polls
Election will see new faces taking up prominent positions
PKR vice-president Chua Tian Chang says keeping infighting ‘within the four walls’ of the party is key to avoiding a repeat of the events that unfolded in the months leading up to the Sheraton Move in February 2020. – Bernama pic, January 16, 2022
KUALA LUMPUR – As PKR looks to elect new leadership in the coming months, vice-president Chua Tian Chang is reminding members to keep infighting “within the four walls” of the party.
He said this is key to avoiding a repeat of the events that unfolded in the months leading up to the Sheraton Move in February 2020, where public bickering among PKR members threatened to hurt the party’s image.
With the party election expected by next quarter, Chua said there are bound to be rivalries and differences in opinions, but said these must be kept in check.
KUALA LUMPUR – As PKR looks to elect new leadership in the coming months, vice-president Chua Tian Chang is reminding members to keep infighting “within the four walls” of the party.
He said this is key to avoiding a repeat of the events that unfolded in the months leading up to the Sheraton Move in February 2020, where public bickering among PKR members threatened to hurt the party’s image.
With the party election expected by next quarter, Chua said there are bound to be rivalries and differences in opinions, but said these must be kept in check.
PKR vice-president Chua Tian Chang says the onus is on the leadership to resolve any bickering that could have underlying effects, but internal competition will always be good to push the party forward. – Bernama pic, January 16, 2022
“Members must know to minimise conflicts in public,” he told The Vibes.
“Behind the scenes, what you want to do, that is up to you. But we must remember that we are dealing with public perception.
“So, we cannot be seen publicly to be having too much infighting, because then this will cause the people to lose confidence in us.”
PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil had said the party is expected to head to the polls by early next quarter following the end of the leadership’s term last year.
The election will see a number of new faces taking up prominent positions, after a number of leaders defected from the party in recent years, including the post of deputy president that was previously held by Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.
Three of the four elected vice-presidents are also no longer holding on to their positions, with Nurul Izzah Anwar quitting the post in December 2018, and Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin and Datuk Xavier Jayakumar defecting.
The last party election in 2018 saw fierce rivalry between the two factions of PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Azmin.
By the conclusion of the polls, cracks that had emerged between the two camps were beyond repair.
“Members must know to minimise conflicts in public,” he told The Vibes.
“Behind the scenes, what you want to do, that is up to you. But we must remember that we are dealing with public perception.
“So, we cannot be seen publicly to be having too much infighting, because then this will cause the people to lose confidence in us.”
PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil had said the party is expected to head to the polls by early next quarter following the end of the leadership’s term last year.
The election will see a number of new faces taking up prominent positions, after a number of leaders defected from the party in recent years, including the post of deputy president that was previously held by Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.
Three of the four elected vice-presidents are also no longer holding on to their positions, with Nurul Izzah Anwar quitting the post in December 2018, and Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin and Datuk Xavier Jayakumar defecting.
The last party election in 2018 saw fierce rivalry between the two factions of PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Azmin.
By the conclusion of the polls, cracks that had emerged between the two camps were beyond repair.
PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil has said the party is expected to head to the polls by early next quarter following the end of the leadership’s term last year. – The Vibes file pic, January 16, 2022
Things came to a head when Azmin led his group out of the political outfit, contributing to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government two years ago, ultimately dashing any hopes of Anwar becoming the prime minister then.
Chua, who was a known Azmin ally, remained in the party and was initially sidelined by many within the ranks, although he now appears to be welcomed again.
While critics and others within PKR see the party as a united front now with most of the “political frogs” gone, Chua said this is not necessarily the case, as there will always be differences in opinion among members.
“When we expand as a party, of course there will be differences, be it in thinking or strategy. We are bound to deal with it.
“We will have new challenges. I don’t think we should expect that we are going to be more united just because some members left.”
Chua said the onus is on the leadership to resolve any bickering that could have underlying effects, but internal competition will always be good to push the party forward.
“The only thing is that we must know how to accept differences and at the same time maintain our dynamism, in a way that does not undermine the party’s performance in the elections.” – The Vibes, January 16, 2022
Things came to a head when Azmin led his group out of the political outfit, contributing to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government two years ago, ultimately dashing any hopes of Anwar becoming the prime minister then.
Chua, who was a known Azmin ally, remained in the party and was initially sidelined by many within the ranks, although he now appears to be welcomed again.
While critics and others within PKR see the party as a united front now with most of the “political frogs” gone, Chua said this is not necessarily the case, as there will always be differences in opinion among members.
“When we expand as a party, of course there will be differences, be it in thinking or strategy. We are bound to deal with it.
“We will have new challenges. I don’t think we should expect that we are going to be more united just because some members left.”
Chua said the onus is on the leadership to resolve any bickering that could have underlying effects, but internal competition will always be good to push the party forward.
“The only thing is that we must know how to accept differences and at the same time maintain our dynamism, in a way that does not undermine the party’s performance in the elections.” – The Vibes, January 16, 2022
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kt comments:
I wonder where Tian Chua will stand as PKR candidate in GE15? The current incumbent P Prabakaran will no doubt hang on to Batu like a leech, wakakaka.
There's Kuala Langat available, currently held by Xavier Jayakumar but who left PKR on 21 March 2021 due to, as rumours have it, pressure from MACC on his family members' business dealings. Xavier was even a former PKR Vice President.
Or he could try Gombak, his old matey's seat, but that seat may be a bit of a long bow for him. But if he's prepared to wander a bit farther, then he could contest in Segamat, the seat of super-holidaying-frog Edmund Santhara, wakakaka.
Another safe seat for Tian Chua may be Pandan, currently held by Wan Azizah, Malaysia's most reluctant politician. If Wan were to retire from politics as she most likely wants to, Tian Chua can stand in that constituency.
Whichever seat Tian Chua chooses, good luck to him.
Isn't tianchua from Azmin's gang?
ReplyDeleteyes, but Tian stayed backed in PKR
DeleteIt's still unproven whether Tian Chua is an Azmin Fifth Columnists or he is still loyal to PKR.
ReplyDeleteWhat is certain is he will be watched very closely for evidence of treachery. His acceptability and trustworthiness as a PKR candidate is still in doubt.