PKR vice-president Tian Chua has been appointed as special adviser to Works Minister Baru Bian.

Baru, in a statement tonight, said Chua's appointment is effective March 1.

"Chua has wide experience and is a person of character and principle.

"Apart from having a good relationship with local and international NGOs, he also has a good relationship with national leaders within and outside of the government," he said.

Chua has a degree in agricultural science from the University of Sydney, and another in history and philosophy of science from the University of New South Wales.

He also holds a Master's in employment and labour studies from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague.

A recipient of the Malaysian Human Rights Fellowship in 1998, Chua was also given the AIF Rose Award from the National Labour Federation of Denmark in 2003 for his work on labour rights in Malaysia.

The PKR leader was the two-term MP for Batu before being disqualified from last year's general election.

Independent candidate P Prabakaran – who Chua endorsed – won the seat by a landslide.

Prabakaran garnered 38,125 votes to BN's 13,687 and PAS' 10,610. Another independent, VM Panjamothy, received just 383 votes.