PAKATAN Harapan (PH) will field the best candidate to represent PKR to retain the Batu parliamentary seat in the 15th General Election (GE15), said Fahmi Fadzil.
According to the PKR information chief, the committee responsible for the screening of candidates is currently discussing the list of candidates to contest in the upcoming national polls.
Fahmi also noted that PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli had recently launched an online campaign to allow members of the public to pitch themselves as candidates for GE15.
Rafizi had explained in a press conference broadcast on his Facebook page recently that the move was taken as the party believes that the existing nomination process needs to be revamped and improved to ensure that only candidates who meet the criteria and are eligible can be nominated.
“I have yet to receive the latest information on the candidates but there are two important things, first, that PKR will defend the Batu parliamentary seat, and second, that we will field the best candidate for the seat,” Fahmi told Utusan Malaysia.
“We have yet to announce the candidates…what we are focusing on right now is what has been officially announced and not rumours and I believe that PKR will announce its list of candidates in the near future or as early as next week.”
It was previously reported that Chua Tian Chang – better known as Tian Chua – has set his eyes on his former seat for GE15 and is currently waiting for PKR to decide on his candidacy.
Tian Chua was disqualified from running for the Batu seat in GE14 due to a RM2,000 fine imposed on him by the Shah Alam High Court.
Chua and PKR backed incumbent MP Prabakaran who was then an independent candidate. After GE14, Prabakaran joined PKR as an official member.
However, the High Court later ruled on Nov 6, 2019 – after GE14 – that Tian Chua in fact did not lose his eligibility and could contest in any election.
When contacted by the Malay daily, Prabakaran said he is still in the dark about his “fate” in upcoming national polls. “I don’t know, let’s just wait [for the announcement],” he said.
Asked if he will make a return to GE15 as an independent candidate, he said, “I don’t know yet.”
Batu is expected to be hotly contested. Lawyer cum activist Siti Kasim is also in the race as an independent, while Gerakan was also said to be contesting there.
It was also reported that Barisan Nasional will field a candidate from an NGO. – Oct 20, 2022
