Tian to pull out of PKR No 2 race

A source says he wants Saifuddin Nasution to win

Leven Woon, FMT

Batu MP Tian Chua is opting out of the six-way tussle for the PKR deputy president’s post, a source close to him has told FMT.

He is expected to announce that decision later today.

According to the source, Tian has decided to make way for Saifuddin Nasution, whom he sees fit to unseat Azmin Ali.

Azmin is widely seen as the front-runner with his niche support base. The other contestants more or less share the same group of supporters.

The source said Tian Chua did not want votes to be split between himself, Saifuddin and Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and would probably try to persuade Khalid to withdraw as well.

Tian Chua has told Sin Chew Daily that he would not have filed in his nomination papers if he had known that Saifuddin was also going for deputy president.

Tian Chua is also in the running for one of the vice-presidential positions, but may withdraw from that race as well if he is certain of being appointed secretary-general of the party.

“Perhaps, I will take up the secretary-general’s post,” Sin Chew quoted him as saying yesterday.

Candidates have until April 10 to withdraw. PKR office bearers are directly elected by members. The elections will be held between April 26 and May 11.