Tian: 'Lahad Datu case won't effect my campaign'

PKR vice president Tian Chua believes the issue about the Lahad Datu intrusion statement will not have an effect to his campaign during the 13th General Elections.

The Batu MP was confident that the charges made under Section 4 (1) (b) Sedition Act 1948 will not influence the voters in the area. Instead Tian Chua said he had even more support from his voters.

"I am confident the voters can judge for themselves about the allegations made upon me. They know better about these slanderous statements, which are untrue. It does not affect my campaign at all,"

He was speaking after attending the case mention at the Kuala Lumpur Session Court .

Lawyers Eric Paulsen and Latheefa Koya filed an appeal at the Kuala Lumpur High Court to drop the charges and accusation against Tian Chua.

As a result of the application, Judge Norsharidah Awang postponed the date of mention to June 6, allowing the High Court to make a decision.

On March 14, Tian Chua was charged under the Sedition Act 1948 for making seditious statement about the Lahad Datu intrusion and gun battle in east Sabah.

If convicted, he will be imposed a fine of RM5000 or prison of not more than three years or both.

Meanwhile Umno has also filed a suit against Tian Chua for allegedly linking the party to the Lahad Datu intrusion by the Sulu terrorists.

The suit was filed by Umno executive secretary Datuk Abdul Rauf Yusoh, naming Tian Chua (Chuan Tian Chang), KeadilanDaily.com editor Fazillah Pit and writer Aisha Geoffrey as defendants.

Umno had accused them of publishing a libellous article in the Keadilan Daily online portal on March 1, under the heading, Insiden tembakan di Lahad Datu konspirasi terancang Umno – Tian (Shooting incident at Lahad Datu a planned conspiracy of Umno - Tian).

The suit was filed by Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak at the Kuala Lumpur High Court registrar office on March 15.

Despite the controversies and court cases, Tian Chua will be contesting in the 13th General Elections to defend his Batu parliament seat.