“The problem with joining parties is you have to submit to their worldview, which is okay, but you must learn how to climb the ladder within the party because if you don’t, (then you’re out),” the Petaling Jaya candidate said in an interview on Facebook.

John, 72, said political parties do not recognise individual brilliance, and claimed this was one of the reasons why some parties have dropped prominent figures from their general election candidates lineup.

He also said this was why he is not contesting under a party.

“They (parties) only recognise the party agenda, and I didn’t want to submit to that, so I stayed out,” he said.

He is the only independent candidate involved in the six-cornered fight for the Petaling Jaya parliamentary seat.

The Gerak Independent candidate will be going up against Lee Chean Chung (Pakatan Harapan), Chiew Hian Tat (Barisan Nasional), Theng Book (Perikatan Nasional), Ezam Nor (Parti Rakyat Malaysia) and Mazween Mokthar (Gerakan Tanah Air).

John said if he becomes an MP, one of his plans is to push for the reinstatement of local council elections to better ensure the delivery of service.

“We have 157 local authorities (which include city, municipal and district councils), so that covers about 95% of the country,” he said.