KUALA LUMPUR: Former PKR vice-president Tian Chua has decided to contest in Batu for the 15th General Election (GE15).
A source close to the former two-term Batu member of parliament told Free Malaysia Today Tian Chua decided to stand as an independent candidate in the Nov 19 election after getting feedback from the ground.
The same source told the online news portal that Tian Chua was asked to make a comeback at the parliamentary constituency and that his team is ready to help him with the campaign.
Another source said Tian Chua would support Pakatan Harapan (PH) and back PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister if the former wins in Batu.
Tian Chua, when contacted by the NST, was coy about the rumours and refused to either confirm or deny the news.
"I am not supposed to give any press a scoop," he said in a short text message via WhatsApp.
Tian Chua was the Batu MP from 2008 to 2018. In the 2018 general election, he failed to defend his seat after he was disqualified on nomination day.
For the GE15, PKR has named P. Prabakaran to defend the seat.
The Batu seat is shaping up to be a crowded race. If Tian Chua contests, it could be a seven-corner fight, or even more.
All three major coalitions — Barisan Nasiona, Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional — have announced their candidates, as have Gerakan Tanah Air and Parti Warisan. Gerak Independent's firebrand human rights lawyer Siti Kasim has also announced her intention to contest the hot seat.