PETALING JAYA: Learning about his expulsion and that of four other party members via the media was a bitter pill to swallow for former PKR vice-president Chua Tian Chang.
Chua, who is better known as Tian Chua, said it was disrespectful of PKR Disciplinary Committee chairman Datin Paduka Dr Tan Yee Kew to not notify the five regarding their expulsion from the party.
“This very unprofessional act is regrettable and disrespectful.
“As a Keadilan activist who had witnessed the birth of the movement and engaged in the struggle continuously for more than two decades, I am sad and disappointed with such a decision,” he said in a statement.
Tian Chua also said his conscience was clear and he had never done anything against the principles or political objectives of PKR.
At the same time, he said he was prepared to accept the consequences of contesting the Batu parliamentary seat as an Independent in the 15th General Election (GE15).
“I acknowledged the party needs to maintain organisational discipline,” he added.
Nevertheless, Tian Chua said in the post-GE15 scenario, rival parties had chosen to declare a truce and cooperate to form a unity government.
“Without disputing the power of the leadership, however, harsh measures to enforce the rules seem to contradict the ethos of reconciliation and inclusiveness in the current political environment,” he said.
He added that he joined the reformasi struggle from 1998 with the sole motive of bringing democratic changes to this country.
“Today, I am proud to see that all the years of effort are not in vain.
“I have no regret for every single minute spent in the struggle,” he said.
Tian Chua said there were many challenges ahead and he assured that he would not slow down in his struggles for reform in Malaysia.
“I will not retreat from fighting to defend the rights and welfare of the people,” added Chua.
However, he did not mention whether he would be appealing against PKR’s decision to sack him.
PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had said Tian Chua had 14 days to appeal against the decision.
On Sunday, five leaders, including Tian Chua, were sacked from PKR for standing against the party in GE15 and the Sarawak state election.
Meanwhile, the other four sacked by PKR were division leaders in Perak – Puah Chee Haur from Parit Buntar, M. Mohganan from Taiping and Ahmad Tarmizi Ghazali from Gopeng – and in Sarawak, Nur Khairunisa Abdullah from Sadong Jaya.
Nur Khairunisa stood as a Parti Sarawak Bersatu candidate in last year’s state election while Mohganan contested the Taiping parliamentary seat as an Independent.
Ahmad Tarmizi and Puah were fielded by Parti Warisan in Chenderiang and Keranji state seats respectively in GE15.
