Tian Chua attacks ‘kingmaker’ for dragging PKR through the mud

(FMT) – PKR vice-president Tian Chua has openly criticised a PKR leader for making statements about the party that may not be well received by PH component parties and the public.

Speaking to FMT, he said he was referring to one of the PKR leaders who was also involved in the “Kajang Move”.

“We need to discuss matters thoroughly first so our moves are prioritised,” he said.

The former Batu MP is believed to be referring to PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli, who announced last night that the party would vacate a parliamentary seat next week to allow its president and prime minister-in-waiting, Anwar Ibrahim, to contest in.

According to the New Straits Times, Rafizi said PKR had taken the first step by making Anwar president.

“Our next step is to make him an MP. This is because many are questioning, saying Anwar is a nobody, not an MP, and merely a former prisoner,” Rafizi was quoted as saying.

In return, Tian Chua tweeted today: “Who is the fella enthroned himself as the kingmaker for everything that happens under the sun? How many times you want to drag the party into the mud with your Kajang Move?”

Anwar’s wife and Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today also confirmed that a parliamentary seat will be vacated to pave the way for Anwar to contest in.

“Some of our elected representatives have offered to vacate their seats to enable Anwar to contest,” she said at a function.

Another PKR leader, who did not want to be named, told FMT that the party should discuss having a by-election for Anwar with PKR leaders and other PH component party members.

“We were not aware of the plans. We were caught off guard that this by-election may be held so soon.

“We should evaluate if this is the right time for such a move as the turnout for the earlier by-election after May 9 was poor.

“People are now more interested in PH doing better in terms of the economy,” he said.

He added the “Kajang Move” in 2014 had also angered PAS, which was then still part of Pakatan Rakyat but was not consulted over the matter. He now hoped the same would not happen again among PH component parties.

The “Kajang Move”, a political manoeuvre in 2014, was aimed at toppling Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and installing Anwar Ibrahim as the next menteri besar.

Lee Chin Cheh, a PKR state assemblyman, resigned to pave the way for the Kajang by-election in which Anwar was intended to be the beneficiary. The strategy was said to be the brainchild of Rafizi.

However, by then, Anwar was convicted in his second sodomy case by the Court of Appeal. His wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, was then appointed as the PKR candidate and won.

Wan Azizah was then endorsed by party leaders to be the next MB. However, Khalid claimed he had been given the consent to continue serving as MB and that he enjoyed the support of most of the assemblymen. Wan Azizah, on the other hand, claimed she was the one who had majority support.

After some time, Khalid resigned as MB. The crisis ended when PKR deputy president Azmin Ali was sworn in as MB and many analysts believe that this incident may have caused a split between Rafizi and Azmin, causing the party to have two teams.