PKR veteran Tian Chua says he hopes to return as a member of Parliament and is open to contesting Batu again, citing what he described as strong support from constituents.
However, the 62-year-old said the final decision on where he would contest remained with the party leadership as part of its election strategy.
“In the short term, of course, I think I still have the energy to contribute in Parliament, and I would like to go back to Parliament,” he told FMT in an interview.
Tian Chua served as the Batu MP for two terms from 2008. He was barred from defending the seat in the 2018 general election after the returning officer rejected his nomination over a RM2,000 court fine.
He subsequently backed independent candidate P Prabakaran, who won the seat and later joined the party.
Tian Chua was sacked by PKR in January 2023 after contesting Batu as an independent in the 2022 general election against Prabakaran, whom the party had chosen to defend the seat.
Tian Chua says Batu ties remain strong
Tian Chua said he had maintained a close relationship with the constituency and remained connected to its community.
“For the community in Batu, they have been expressing a strong desire that I would come back to serve them because I have been connected to them for a few decades now,” he said.
He nevertheless acknowledged that the decision on his candidacy would ultimately rest with the PKR leadership.
Hopes to build a lasting PKR
Beyond his own parliamentary ambitions, Tian Chua said his broader political goal was to ensure PKR survived and developed into a political institution that could be passed on to future generations.
“I think the main goal is that PKR wants to leave a legacy so that this political party’s name, Parti Keadilan Rakyat, is here to stay,” he said.
He said the party should continue championing inclusivity and equality while building a political base capable of withstanding changes in electoral fortunes.
Tian Chua pointed to long-established political parties in Western democracies, such as the Labour, Conservative and Liberal parties in the UK, which have survived for generations despite experiencing electoral victories and defeats.
“They go up and down,” he said, adding that such parties nevertheless remained permanent features of their respective political systems and continued to represent particular sections of society and political values.
He said PKR should aspire to build a similarly lasting political institution.
“So for me, that is the main thing that I hope to leave for the future generation,” he said.
