GE14 | Contrary to the intense speculation that PKR vice-president Tian Chua will announce his resignation, he pledged his commitment to the party and Pakatan Harapan's struggle.

However, he told the PKR leadership to be cautious about the selection of candidates, lending credence to the speculation there is a tug-of-war between the camps of deputy president Azmin Ali and vice-president Rafizi Ramli on this matter.

He pointed out that certain factions were applying intense pressure on the leadership with regard to candidates.

Tian Chua also singled out PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and her husband, the party's de facto leader, Anwar Ibrahim.

"I only urge that at the last minute, our leaders must be very careful not to drop or put people in (the candidates' list) just to accommodate lobbying from various factions.

"We have a heavy burden on our shoulders and people want to see PKR fulfil the wishes of the people and not be seen as a party that accommodates factional interest.

"I am still hopeful, and I believe that our leaders Anwar and Wan Azizah have the strength to withstand pressure so that we can keep the party united to face the election,” he told a press conference in Batu Caves, Selangor.

'Don't get carried away by the euphoria'

Tian Chua, who is confident that the wind of change is blowing in the direction of Harapan, also cautioned the Harapan leadership against getting carried away.

“It is incredible that we see from the grassroots all over the country, the people are enthusiastic. People think change is imminent and hope is high.

“I would like to also say because that, we must be cautious. The Harapan leadership should be very careful and not be carried away too much by the euphoria,” he added

Earlier, when Malaysiakini quizzed Tian Chua on the speculation that he would quit the party, he responded with a single word, “Speechless”.

As for the Star Online report which claimed that a crisis was brewing in PKR over the candidates' list, he replied: “I am in the dark. Maybe there is some truth to it.”

The report had claimed that Wan Azizah had rejected several candidates endorsed by Azmin, who is also the Selangor caretaker menteri besar, for the state.

Among those reportedly rejected were Tian Chua, who is the two-term incumbent for the Batu parliamentary seat.

Malaysiakini also learned that various PKR leaders had talked to Tian Chua to dissuade him from quitting the party.

Malaysia's 'Tiananmen Tank Man'

Tian Chua was catapulted into prominence during the reformasi protests in 1998 when a photograph reminiscent of the Tiananmen Square “Tank Man”, depicted the then raw-boned 34-year-old activist, sitting in front of a police water cannon truck, was published in various international medial organisations.

The PKR leader had always been regarded as a street fighter, whose political career is marked by numerous arrests, charges, and at least two prison terms.

He was also detained under the now-defunct Internal Security Act (ISA) in 1999 over an allegation that he together with several other activists were planning to overthrow the government through militant means and had procured weapons such as hand grenades and rocket launchers.

Tian Chua, whose real name is Chua Tian Chang, also made headlines when he was accused of biting a policeman on the arm, which a medical officer later told the court was similar to someone sinking their teeth into a stick of sugar cane.

Tian Chua was also among the founding members of Parti Keadilan Nasional, which later became known as PKR following its merger with Parti Rakyat Malaysia in 2003.

He made his election debut in 1999 in Malacca. In 2004, he contested the Batu parliamentary seat but was defeated by Gerakan's Ng Lip Yong.

In the following national polls in 2008, he won the traditional Gerakan seat and retained it during the last general election in 2013.