Tian Chua keeps voters guessing on already cramped Batu race

Tian Chua keeps voters guessing on already cramped Batu race


Former PKR vice-president Tian Chua has been teasing Batu voters about a possible return to the parliamentary seat as a candidate, despite not being fielded by PKR.

The former Batu MP appeared on the talk show ‘Malaysia 360’ today - alongside fellow Batu hopeful Siti Kasim to discuss the general election.

As the interview began, the displayed lower third on the online interview - streamed on Facebook and YouTube - showed that Chua, 58, was participating in the interview in the capacity of an election candidate standing in Batu.

The question of his candidacy was also posed by audience members in the comments section of the Facebook live stream.

Asked whether he would be contesting in Batu, as suggested by the show, Chua left its hosts to take the question for him.

"It is true that Tian will compete in Batu,” said show host Syed Munawar, answering in the affirmative as Chua was heard laughing on the video call in the background.

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 him being seen as close to 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.

The Batu parliamentary seat - spanning roughly 20 sq km - has 113,519 registered voters in total. The constituency is expected to see 40,000 first-time voters in the forthcoming general election that will be held on Nov 19.

If Chua’s candidacy is true, it remains unclear whether he will be running as an independent or under the banner of a different party.

Further, it is uncertain how Chua’s alleged candidacy as an independent may affect his relationship with his long-time party, PKR.

Malaysiakini has contacted PKR for a response to such rumours.