KUALA LUMPUR – PKR vice-president Chua Tian Chang said today he will adhere to the party’s decision if he is dropped as the candidate for the Batu parliamentary seat, but warned leaders not to make decisions just to accommodate certain “factions.”
He revealed that he was initially asked to “explore” contesting other places like Johor, but stated that he would be fine sitting out GE14 and helping Pakatan Harapan from the sidelines if he was dropped as the Batu candidate.
“I’m quite okay if someone else were to contest Batu. I have no problem, being a reformist, not to contest this election.
“I only urge that at the last minute, the leadership must be careful and don’t put people in just to accommodate certain factions, lobbying,” he said at a press conference which was broadcast live on his Facebook page.
“I never say I will quit,” he quickly added, refuting rumours that he may quit PKR following reports that his candidacy for the Batu parliamentary seat has been rejected by party president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
Chua said that he heard that many people are interested to contest the Batu seat, widely considered as a “safe seat” for PH.
“Ten years ago, it was not a safe seat, the team of Batu PKR worked very hard to win hearts and minds of Batu people.
“Whoever going to contest in Batu, other places… the next person must be strong, able to command support from multiracial community in Batu,” he added.
Chua said that PKR should not been seen as a party that accommodated “factional interests.”
The Star Online reported this morning that Dr Wan Azizah had rejected up to eight names put forward by deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali as GE14 candidates.
Quoting unnamed sources, the report said that Wanita PKR chief Zuraida Kamaruddin, an Azmin loyalist is currently trying to persuade the PKR president to change her mind.
Among those allegedly dropped as candidates include Chua, Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong (incumbent Wangsa Maju MP) and incumbent state representatives Yaakob Sapari (Kota Anggerik), Hanizah Mohd Talha (Taman Medan) and Gan Pei Nie (Rawang).
Other names reportedly rejected were Azmin’s press aide Hilman Idham, who was proposed for the Gombak Setia state seat and Khalid Jaafar, a key strategist and ally of Azmin.
Azmin had reportedly proposed Khalid for the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat. – Malay Mail
MEANWHILE, according to Malaysiakini:
PKR deputy chief Azmin Ali played down the alleged crisis brewing in the party over the Selangor candidate list by saying “I don’t want to speculate”.
Speaking to reporters in Permatang Pauh today, Azmin denied having submitted a list of candidates aligned to him which was rejected by party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, as alleged by the Star Online.
“The names of candidates are submitted by the state leadership, which gets the proposed names from divisions, and this list is later vetted by the state and submitted to the president,” said the caretaker Selangor menteri besar.
“So I don’t have any list except the party’s list,” he stressed, adding that he does not respond to rumours.
He was replying to questions about a report in Star Online today which alleged that Wan Azizah had rejected up to eight names put forward by Azmin as candidates for the state.
Azmin said discussions on the list are still ongoing and there has been no decision about candidates for Selangor yet.
“A big number of the candidates have been accepted except for a few constituencies,” Azmin said, without elaborating.
“The selection panel comprises of the president, deputy president, vice-presidents including Tian Chua and Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, women and youth chiefs,” he added.
Azmin said the panel has met several times over a list that is almost complete.
He added that it would be less than 48 hours before the party announces the full candidate list.
He insisted that the selection of candidates in PKR was very “transparent”.
Meanwhile, Azmin declined to respond when asked about Tian Chua’s purported plans to quit the party.
– Malay Mail / M’kini
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