KUALA LUMPUR, February 26 – Former PKR leader Tian Chua expressed his hope that businessman and politician John Soh Chee Wen would receive fair consideration in his appeal against a 36-year prison sentence in Singapore.
In a statement shared today, Tian Chua revealed that he received a Chinese New Year greeting from Soh, someone he had not contacted for over a decade. The greeting rekindled his memories of Soh’s role in Malaysia’s political landscape, particularly in the Reformasi movement and PKR.
Tian Chua recalled Soh’s significant role in strengthening PKR’s resources, including providing financial support and recruiting leaders and members from MCA into the party. Although their early relationship was somewhat tense, collaboration in by-elections, media strategies, and fundraising ultimately strengthened their bond.
“John and I were never very close, but we shared many meaningful experiences,” said Tian Chua. “He is intelligent, hardworking, and very efficient in organizational management.”
However, Soh’s journey in business and politics ended in controversy when he was accused of being the mastermind behind Singapore’s largest stock market manipulation scandal in 2013. According to Soh’s lawyer, he became a scapegoat in the case, while his accomplices acted as prosecution witnesses.
Tian Chua expressed his concern over the heavy sentence imposed on Soh. “I doubt whether a heavy sentence is truly effective as a deterrent,” he said. “It is more important to build a strong regulatory framework than to solely rely on harsh penalties against offenders.”
He hopes that the judiciary will grant Soh the justice he deserves in his appeal. “I pray that his appeal is given fair consideration and that he has the opportunity to rebuild his life someday,” he added.
The appeal in John Soh Chee Wen’s case is now under scrutiny, with many awaiting the final decision that will determine his fate in Singapore’s justice system.
