Call for a New Strategy
Tian Chua, one of PKR's founding leaders, has called on Pakatan Harapan (PH) to forge a new political strategy and assemble more inclusive alliances, describing the current three-party structure as "outdated", as reported by Free Malaysia Today (FMT).
The coalition currently comprises PKR, DAP, and Amanah. Tian Chua said new alliances could include political parties, movements, and people who share the vision of an inclusive Malaysia. "There are many movements and parties" sharing this ideal, he said in an interview with FMT, adding that their size does not matter because "their vision is what matters."
"We have to find ways to accommodate them and synchronise our efforts with them," he said.
While acknowledging that political parties must ultimately contest elections and field candidates, he described these as "technical considerations." Seat distribution was secondary, he argued, as candidate selection should be based on merit and the ability to attract votes.
Beyond the Present Government
Tian Chua stressed that PKR must establish itself as a movement capable of surviving beyond the current government and its president, Anwar Ibrahim. "The party's objective cannot purely be to remain in power for the next (electoral) term and then find new leaders just to remain in power after that," he said, adding that the main goal is to create "a party with idealism and principles."
He said the party must also build "bottom up" by rebuilding grassroots, reconnecting with communities, and PKR's experience in government should become a "cumulative skill," drawing on his long history with the party.
Return to Batu?
Separately, Tian Chua has set his sights on a return to Parliament and is open to contesting his former constituency of Batu again, citing enduring grassroots support. The 62-year-old maintained that any final decision rests with the party leadership. "I still have the energy to contribute in Parliament," he told FMT.
Tian Chua represented Batu for two consecutive terms after winning the seat in 2008. He was barred from defending the seat in the 2018 general election due to a RM2,000 court fine. He then endorsed P. Prabakaran, who won the seat and later joined PKR. In the 2022 general election, Tian Chua ran as an independent against Prabakaran, a move that led to his expulsion from PKR in January 2023. He was recently invited to rejoin the party.
Despite the political fallout, Tian Chua said his ties to the grassroots remain intact. "The community has been expressing a strong desire that I would come back to serve them because I have been connected to them for a few decades now," he said.
His broader goal, he emphasized, is ensuring PKR matures into an enduring democratic institution. Comparing the party to the historic UK parties like Labour, Conservative, and Liberal, he urged to maintain founding commitments to inclusivity and equality while cementing an institutional foundation that can weather shifting electoral tides.