One source said Tian Chua decided to stand as an independent candidate after getting feedback from the ground.

“They asked him to come back and his team is ready to help him with the campaign. He is actually a household name in the constituency.

“He would have won the last time if not for his unfair disqualification,” one source told FMT.

Another source from his team said Tian Chua will support Pakatan Harapan and also back Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister if he wins the seat.

Tian Chua was the Batu MP from 2008 to 2018, but failed to defend his seat in the last general election after being disqualified on nomination day.

When contacted by FMT, Tian Chua refused to confirm or deny the matter and simply said all will be known tomorrow morning.

The source from Tian Chua’s team said the PKR man felt the party should have offered him the chance to contest the seat since he was merely disqualified in 2018.

“He threw his support behind then-independent candidate P Prabakaran and campaigned hard for him, resulting in him winning and joining the party,” he said.

PKR has named Prabakaran to defend the seat.

With Tian Chua throwing his hat into the ring, the Batu seat is expected to see a crowded field, with big names like MIC vice-president A Kohilan Pillay and Gerak Independent’s Siti Kasim in contention.

There will also be nominees from Perikatan Nasional, Warisan, Pejuang, Parti Rakyat Malaysia and independent candidates in the running.

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