Anything but politics: Tian Chua
Jul 20th, 2006 by Tian
Anything but politics: Tian Chua
Malaysiakini.com/Andrew Ong
Aug 4, 05 11:25am
A fiery orator and highly public figure, Tian Chua shares with Rentakini his adolescent influences, cooking abilities, love for nature and an unforgettable road trip down under.
Chua Tian Chang, better known among the public and his cohorts as Tian Chua has been an idealistic activist since his youth. Hailing from Melaka, he studied agriculture in Sydney before switching to philosophy. He then completed Masters degree in Employment and Labour Studies from Holland.
He was formerly active in NGO groups locally and in Hong Kong. Most notably he has been with Suaram and the Labour Resource Centre. As an activist, he has suffered police beatings and spent time under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in the Kamunting Detention Centre. He is presently the Information Chief of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
Do you consider yourself to be a rebel?
I don’t think so. I think the term ‘rebel’ is a label for anyone who oppose the powers-that-be. I think the values from what I’m doing can be considered mainstream, if there is a different social setting. Currently, it is very unfortunate that being critical and unconventional results in people being labelled a ‘rebel’ or ‘dangerous’. I think it is wrong to label people.
Do you consider yourself a role model?
No, I don’t think so. Every individual should build their own identity. Having role models is not always a healthy thing.
Hypothetically, do you want your kids to follow your footsteps?
I make choices and do things according to necessity. I would like children, other than my own, to be brave enough to pave their own paths for their future.
Who did you look up to when you were younger?
I did not look up to a certain individual. Instead I draw inspiration from the critical thinkers and activist movement of a certain period in history. Some of these individuals include Michel Foucault, Jean-Paul Sartre (left photo), Franz Fanon, Kafka and Simone de Beauvoir. It is the interesting debate (generated by such theorists and activists) that opens up our horizons.
What three CD’s would you recommend to a teenager?
As a teenager I was quite attracted by debut album of the Sex Pistols (Nevermind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistol), Lou Reed (of the band Velvet Underground) and Supertramp.
A good book for bedtime reading?
Mahabharata, an ancient Indian epic which touches on literature and philosophy. It’s a long book though.
How would you describe your culinary skills?
I am quite good at Punjabi cooking as I used to work as a kitchen hand while I was studying in Sydney. I can do curry, kurma, roti naan and chapatti. Pity I don’t have much time for these now.
Any interesting hobbies?
I like to go trekking in the mountains around the city, Fraser’s Hill, Taman Negara…
What about Bukit Larut in Taiping?
(Laughs) That is a good target. I always see it (during my time spent under ISA detention), but never get a chance to climb it. I also like to do crafts. I do some drawing and carpentry which I got a lot of chance to do while I was stuck in Kamunting.
So where do you like to hang out?
Currently in Bangsar and Brickfields. This is not necessarily the best places to hang out but it is convenient for me as my office is nearby.
Best thing about Malaysia
The diversity of lifestyles which overlaps and the greenery in Malaysia. These are things that we should preserve.
A crazy thing you did in University
Steven (Gan, Malaysiakini editor-in-chief) was studying in Sydney and he had to transfer to a campus in Melbourne. But his budget only allowed him to rent a van for 24 hours. So I followed him to Melbourne and drove the van by myself back to Sydney with no sleep for 24 hours.
Who do you think is the best looking politician in Malaysia?
(Really long pause) On the government side I would say Chua Jui Meng the former two-term Health Minister. On the opposition side… (pauses even longer)… I think Ezam Noor can be considered good looking.
Who do you think is the worst dressed politician?
Rafidah Aziz is quite bad.
What cologne do you use?
I don’t use cologne unfortunately. My spin doctors hasn’t introduced me to any male cosmetics. (Grins)
Do you floss or brush your teeth first?
Depends on my mood and the condition of my teeth. I have neglected my dental care for a long time. When I was in Kamunting, I had regular and free dental care, but now it has become rather infrequent.
What talent do you wish you had?
Musical talent. I wish I could play an instrument. My family is musically inclined, so it’s unfortunate I didn’t pick up any of those genes.
When and where are you happiest?
I have been living in many places over the past 30 years. I lived in Hong Kong, Sydney, Holland and several other places. I enjoyed my days in Holland as it was a nice place and post-graduate studies were interesting. I would consider that 15 months to be very comfortable and enjoyable.
Favourite fictional hero
Since young, I have always been attracted to the Japanese comic character Doreamon. If I had the choice to live in such a fantasy world, Doreamon is the companion that I would like to have.
A good movie on a lonely night
Blue Velvet by David Lynch.
What do you look for in a woman?
Independence, individual personality, cool, very sociable and yet detached.