The Malaysian Insight

PARTI Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) is keeping its doors open to Pakatan Harapan (PH) to avoid multi-cornered fights in the upcoming elections, said its central committee member S. Arutchelvan.

Arutchelvan told The Malaysian Insight the party regrets that PH never invited them to participate in seat negotiations.

“We’re still willing to negotiate but hopefully not at the last minute as the elections are near. Based on past experiences, PH will usually announce at the eleventh hour to let PSM contest in Sungai Siput.

“For an old party like PSM, it’s embarrassing to get only one seat,” he said.

He added that the balls are on PH’s court as they are the larger coalition and PSM is a small party.

DAP’s Anthony Loke told The Malaysian Insight today that PH has agreed that PSM can keep Sungai Siput if its incumbent and PSM central committee member Dr Michael Jeyakumar stands on a PKR ticket.

Arutchelvan posted on Facebook yesterday that PSM will go up against PH and BN in five federal seats: Batu Gajah (Perak), Sungai Siput (Perak), Subang (Selangor), Hulu Langat (Selangor) and Cameron Highlands (Pahang).

The post attracted mixed reactions from netizens. Supporters said PSM is a better choice than PH and BN while detractors slammed PSM for splitting votes for the opposition, which will benefit BN.

Arutchelvan acknowledged that it would be a tough fight for PSM but it is banking on the quality of its candidates and their years of serving constituents.

“Our candidates have rich political experience, are clean and diligent in hitting the ground.

“If the constituents vote based on the quality of candidates, we stand a good chance; if they are voting based on political parties, then it will be an uphill battle for us,” he said.

PSM currently only has one parliamentary seat – Sungai Siput.

Their central committee member Dr Michael Jeyakumar wrested the seat from then MIC president Samy Vellu in 2008 by 1,821 votes and retained it with a larger majority of 2,793 votes in 2013 on a PKR ticket.

Arutchelvan said Dr Michael Jeyakumar has consistently declared his assets every year since 1999, way before PH picked up the practice.

PSM Cameron Highlands secretary B. Suresh will likely go up against candidates from DAP and BN component party PPP or MIC while Arutchelvan himself will probably be up against Amanah, PAS and Umno in Hulu Langat.

The party is also fielding an Orang Asli candidate in Jelai, Pahang. It plans to contest 15 state seats. The candidates have yet to be finalised. – January 9, 2018.