Tian Chua welcomes Anwar’s call for PKR veterans to return

 The former PKR vice-president says despite past disagreements within the party, PKR remains an important political force in multiracial Malaysia.

Wanita PKR information chief Ginie Lim uploaded a photo on Facebook of herself with former party vice-presidents Tian Chua and Dr Xavier Jayakumar at the party’s national congress in Melaka today. (Facebook pic)

HANG TUAH JAYA:

Tian Chua, one of PKR’s founding leaders who was sacked in 2023, has welcomed party president Anwar Ibrahim’s call for party veterans to return to the fold.

He also said he was at the party’s national congress on Anwar’s invitation.

“I think he made his message clear. He wants the veterans to return and help consolidate the party, including those who feel marginalised,” he told FMT.

When asked if he was rejoining the party, Tian Chua said: “It’s Anwar’s call. It’s up to Anwar to reinstate my membership and with the same membership number.”

Tian Chua was expelled from PKR after the 15th general election in 2022 for contesting the Batu parliamentary seat as an independent. Pakatan Harapan candidate P Prabakaran, also from PKR, won the seat in a crowded 10-cornered fight.

Anwar in his keynote speech at the PKR congress earlier today apologised and urged party veterans to return to PKR.

“Otai-otai (old timers), my other friends, who may have felt somewhat marginalised – if we have made any mistakes, I apologise.

“Return to the path of our struggle,” Anwar said.

Tian Chua, the former two-term Batu MP, said Anwar’s appeal was to consolidate the party and to strengthen the reform movement. He said that despite past disagreements within the party, PKR remained an important political force in multiracial Malaysia.

He also said PKR continued to be undermined by identity politics despite Pakatan Harapan’s reform agenda. Anti-PH sentiment remains strong, he said, while PKR’s grassroots support and election machinery had weakened over the years.

With the repeated losses in recent state elections, Tian Chua said it was important for everyone to “get back to work”.

He added that former PKR vice-president Dr Xavier Jayakumar was also at the congress and hoped Anwar would reach out to other former leaders.

FMT has also reached out to Xavier for comment. - FMT