PKR shows it can accept different views as Tian Chua concludes congress

MELAKA, Dec 8 -- PKR today proved its ability to accept opposing views as it remained calm throughout the winding-up speech by vice-president Tian Chua which had a different essence compared to other leaders.

Expected to absent from today's congress after he walked out from the hall during a debate session along with deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali and 22 members of Central Leadership Council yesterday, Tian Chua shared his stance in his winding-up speech today. 

Expressing his disappointment over yesterday's incident, Tian Chua said he attended the congress today as he was a leader who was elected by PKR members.

"Yesterday, many of the representatives wanted to expel me while the others wanted to prevent me from coming here today with many called me a traitor.

"I have never been afraid to face the FRU nor police brutality, let alone my colleagues who have different views from mine, as a reformist I will never fear them,” he said at the last day of the  PKR National Congress 2019 at the Melaka International Trade Centre here. 

Despite being 'booed’ by some representatives, Tian Chua continued by saying that the issue of party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the eighth prime minister (PM) should not be made the subject of debate as it had been agreed by Pakatan Harapan (PH).   

Instead, he stressed that PKR members should have focused on issues of public concern such as development, education, household income, poverty and economic inequality.

"People are looking at us, I agree with Fahmi (Communications Director Ahmad Fahmi Mohamed Fadzil) (that) we should understand issues such as education and poverty, (yet) most of the debaters were busy apple polishing Anwar as the 8th PM,” he said. 

He urged the party members to remember the hardships faced by leaders during the early stage of the party's inception 20 years ago.

Tian Chua asserted that PKR must ensure its ability to become a ruling party that was inclusive and able to solve people's problems. 

He also said that PKR should avoid being a party that only wanted to support leaders with power as it would only weaken the party. 

“Anwar is being tested whether he could resolve issues in the party, racial tension, income gap, poverty and if our party does not aware of this fact then we will fail to contribute towards solving the issues,” he said.  

Tian Chua also asserted that he would continue to uphold principles of the party's struggle and not just support any particular leaders. 

Meanwhile, another vice-president Chang Lih Kang said the party members must show allegiance to one captain and avoid factions.  

“Show (our) allegiance to the party's fundamental cause and Anwar as one ship must only have one captain,” he said. 

Meanwhile, another vice-president Datuk Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar said the party had an important mission, namely to fight for the survival of the next generation.

“If we can't decide our direction, then we shouldn't ask why future generation would not vote for us,” he said while reminding PKR members not to question PH consensus in making Anwar the 8th PM.

-- BERNAMA