SPLIT IN PKR?
VICE-PRESIDENT Tian Chua adds fuel to the speculation that the party is engulfed in a crisis over the selection of candidates. He admits the leadership is under intense pressure to choose certain individuals, but warns it against making irrational decisio
WAN AZIZAH WALKS OUT AS AZMIN ADDRESSES PEOPLE OF PERMATANG PAUH
IN an attack on his party, PKR vice-president Tian Chua yesterday warned its leadership against making irrational decisions in choosing candidates for the 14th General Election (GE14).
The warning from the hardcore PKR politician came in the midst of widespread speculation that the party was in a crisis as squabbles between top leaders were reported over its candidate selection.
It also came in the wake that Tian Chua was being pushed to let go of his Batu parliamentary seat to contest in Johor.
He said: “I am willing to accept if I am not selected to defend my seat. However, any replacement candidate must be someone who can garner the people’s support.
“The party leadership must be careful. The selection of candidates must take into consideration the person’s background... and this applies everywhere, not just in Batu.”
He admitted that the party leadership was facing pressure in shortlisting candidates
“All I want is that our leaders decide carefully and not cave in to lobbying from any quarters.”
Social media was yesterday abuzz with news of bickering in PKR over its list of candidates, especially in Selangor where Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali’s proposed list was allegedly chopped off by party president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
It was reported that up to eight names proposed by Azmin were struck off by Wan Azizah.
They included Tian Chua, former Segambut member of parliament Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong and former assemblymen Yaakob Sapari (Kota Anggerik), Hanizah Mohd Talha (Taman Medan) and Gan Pei Nie (Rawang).
The other three names submitted by Azmin were also rejected. They were Azmin’s aide, Hilman Idham, who was proposed for Lembah Setia state seat, and Khaled Jaafar, who was proposed for Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat, as well as Mohd Razlan Jalaluddin for the Kota Damansara parliamentary seat.
However, Azmin made light of the problem, saying that discussions on PKR candidates were ongoing.
He, however, said the majority of candidates to be fielded in GE14 had been approved by a selection panel.
The panel comprised the party president, deputy president, election director, Women’s chief, Youth chief and PKR vice-presidents Tian Chua and Dr Xavier Jayakumar (former Seri Andalas assemblyman).
“I don’t want to speculate (about the alleged crisis). Let us settle this issue. All I can say is that the selection panel has met several times to discuss, and we
All I want is that our leaders decide carefully and not cave in to lobbying from any quarters. TIAN CHUA
PKR vice-president
have an almost completed list.
“I believe that we will announce the full list of our candidates soon,” he said in Penang.
Earlier, when he was invited on stage to address the people of Permatang Pauh, Dr Wan Azizah made a quick exit.
Asked on the alleged crisis, she said: “I am on my way back to sign appointment letters.”
PKR is scheduled to announce its candidates at a gathering in Sungai Besar tonight.