PKR perlukan muka baharu, bukan kemunculan semula Tian Chua, kata penganalisis

Expert Azmi Hassan from the Nusantara Academy suggests that veteran PKR member Tian Chua should focus on strengthening the party rather than running for Parliament again. He believes that Tian Chua's experience may still be valuable to the party, but it doesn't necessarily give him a stronger position as a candidate. Tian Chua had previously informed FMT that Batu voters still supported his candidacy, but the final decision rests with party leadership.

He previously served as the MP for Batu from 2008 to 2018 but was denied re-election in the 2018 general election after the Election Commission rejected his nomination due to a RM2,000 fine for insulting a police officer. Tian Chua then endorsed independent candidate P Prabakaran, who won the Batu seat before joining PKR. He was subsequently expelled from PKR in January 2023 after running as an independent candidate for Batu in the previous general election, opposing PKR's own candidate Prabakaran.

James Chin from the University of Tasmania adds that Tian Chua's chance of making a significant impact in Parliament is limited, unless he returns with a group of four or five MPs. He also doubts whether Tian Chua can defeat Prabakaran and notes that the former Batu MP has built support and conducted grassroots work for several years.

Chin believes that the only realistic way for Tian Chua to return to Parliament is if the highest leadership of PKR asks Prabakaran to step down. He claims that Tian Chua's achievements in the recent Batu by-election demonstrate that party diversity is more important than individual popularity. Chin also claims that Tian Chua has limited support within PKR, with some party members viewing him as an unpredictable leader.

However, he suggests that Tian Chua's decision not to join another party during his time away from PKR could be an advantage. Chin also questions whether Tian Chua's experience truly gives him an edge in the current political landscape. Although Tian Chua has extensive grassroots experience, he may not be more experienced in overall political terms compared to other figures. The political landscape has changed significantly since Tian Chua left Parliament.