TEMPO.CO, Kuala Lumpur - Vice-Chairman of Malaysia’s opposition Partai Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Tian Chua accused Prime Minister Najib Razak of actively hampering the country’s opposition group in gaining parliamentary seats. PKR itself is a political party that was established by former Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Tian Chua yesterday openly issued his accusation after being disqualified from contesting in Malaysia’s upcoming general election in Batu, Kuala Lumpur.

“PM Najib Razak's position is now on shaky ground which [led him to use] unethical ways to remove the opponents,” said Tian Chua through a phone interview with Tempo on Saturday, April 28.

Furthermore, according to Tian Chua, PKR President Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was disappointed and angered by the disqualification and assumes that the disqualification is an attempt from the Barisan National to weaken and demoralize the opposition group.

The country’s election commission or Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) was formed directly on the orders of PM Najib Razak that is tasked to hold the country’s fair and transparent election.

As news reports suggest Tian Chua, who held the seat twice in Batu, was disqualified because of a conviction for insulting a police officer for which he was fined RM2,000.

“I will contest this verdict to the high court on Monday,” said Tian Chua. “I hope the verdict will be deliberated quickly.”

His disqualification means that he will lose valuable campaign period, especially considering that Malaysia’s general election only allows eleven days since registering for candidates to hold political campaigns.

However, Head of the election commission M. Hashim Abdullah said that it is too early to consider the disqualification of Tian Chua as his demise in the 2018 election, and prefers to let the court decide after Tian submits his case to court.

BUDI RIZA