PETALING JAYA: Tian Chua will be defending his Batu parliamentary seat.
PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said Tian Chua was picked despite him being fined RM2,000 by the High Court for biting a policeman during a demonstration outside the Parliament building in 2009.
“PKR takes the view that Chua is well-qualified to stand as a candidate notwithstanding the fine meted out to him,” Dr Wan Azizah said in a statement which was read out by party vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwarat the party headquarters on Wednesday.
Under the law, an MP is automatically disqualified if he has been convicted with a punishment of a one year’s jail term or more, or a RM 2,000 fine.
In 2010, the High Court reduced Tian Chua’s six-month jail sentence and RM3,000 fine to just the RM2,000 fine for the offence. The judge also decided that Chua would not be disqualified from office. Tian Chua did not appeal against the RM2,000 fine.
“Clearly, therefore, both Parliament and the Election Commission agreed with the ruling made by the High Court, or at the very least saw no need to dissent.
“PKR expects that the EC will instruct the returning officer in Batu accordingly,” said Dr Wan Azizah.
THE STAR
