Tian Chua to stand in Batu

Incumbent Batu MP Tian Chua will be contesting again for the Federal Territory parliament Batu seat in the 13th General Election said Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Wan Azizah, in a statement said that the PKR vice president is viewed as well-qualified to stand as a candidate despite a RM20,000 fine meted out to him for a criminal prosecution arising out of a public assembly.

In the court proceeding, High Court Judge Justice Ghazali Cha had set aside the original sentence of six months of jail term and a fine of RM3,000 meted out by Magistrate Mohd Faizi Che Abu.

The fine was reduced to RM2,000 or two months jail if the fine is not paid.

Justice Ghazali decided categorically that Chua was not disqualified to be a member of parliament by reason of the RM2,000 fine.

"Subsequently, the Parliament was fully appraised that Chua’s case and as such took no stepsto suggest disqualification.

"Even the Election Commission (EC), did not initiate any disqualification.

"Therefore, both Parliament and the EC agreed with the ruling made by Justice Ghazali, or the very least saw no need to dissent." Azizah Said.