Maria Chin offers herself as independent candidate under PH banner (Updated)

PETALING JAYA: Former Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah will not be joining any Pakatan Harapan (PH) parties in her bid to contest as a parliamentary candidate in the upcoming 14th General Election (GE14).
Instead, the prominent civil society leader will make her way into politics as an independent candidate under the opposition coalition's banner.
In a packed press conference to announce her resignation from Bersih 2.0, Maria said while PH had not offered her any seat yet, the coalition was open to her intention of joining politics.
"After much consideration and consultation with key stakeholders, I have decided to resign from my position in Bersih 2.0 and offer myself as an independent candidate," she said.
"I will not be joining any political party but I am willing to contest under a PH party logo," she said.
While there were still questions on which constituency she would be contesting, Maria stressed that she would only consider being fielded as a parliamentary candidate.
Maria added she would not be contesting if PH were to offer her a state seat, rather than parliamentary constituency.
"I prefer to contest for a parliament seat as changes in (national) laws could only be done at the federal level.
"I will not stand (if PH offers a state seat). I am trying to push forward a reform agenda. If I were in a state, how can I do that," she said.

On why she refused to join any political party, Maria said she wanted to keep on her reform agenda without being tied to any political groups.
"I should be able to have space to put up my own positions if there were certain controversial issues," she said.
"I do not want to get involved so much in party politics. I just want to stay focused on my own agenda," she added.
Asked why she chose PH as her platform to jump into politics, Maria said: "I agree with PH's manifesto, so why not go with it".