Hundreds show support for Tian Chua at vigil

GE14 | More than 200 PKR members and supporters gathered at candlelight vigil in Kuala Lumpur tonight in a show of solidarity for Tian Chua, who was disqualified as PKR candidate for the parliamentary seat of Batu.

The expectant crowd was waiting for Tian Chua to deliver his message on his plans for the May 9 polls.

Several PKR leaders, including caretaker Selangor exco Elizabeth Wong, incumbent Rawang state assemblyperson Gan Pei Nei and incumbent Wangsa Maju MP Dr Tan Kee Kwong were also in attendance.

Tian Chua was seen chatting with supporters while the other leaders were delivering their speeches.

Wong informed the crowd that the two-term incumbent Batu MP stands a good chance of getting the courts to quash the Election Commission's decision to disqualify him.

"We were told it is highly possible for us to win the case on Thursday, thus to include Tian Chua's name on the ballot paper," she said to the cheers of the crowd.

Thus, she urged the crowd to show up at Kuala Lumpur Court Complex to show Tian Chua their support.

Not mincing her words, Wong also accussed the EC of being Umno’s hired "thug."

"The EC's action was not that of a free and fair institution, but an institution that acted as a branch of Umno.

“It acted like a thug hired by Umno," she said.

Meanwhile, Gan said EC can no longer be trusted to perform its duties.

"The EC is cheating, it can no longer be trusted," she said, with the crowd chanting "liars" in response. 

"This is seen clearly from the fact that he did not lose his MP status before, but he cannot contest now," she added, referring to a similar fine of RM2,000 from 2010 not ruling out Tian Chua from the 2013 polls. -Mkini