Debate for Jelapang seat, says Haris

ABU activist Haris Ibrahim is willing to organise the debate between DAP and PSM to avoid a three corner tussle.

IPOH: Anything But Umno (ABU) activist Haris Ibrahim has suggested that Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) and DAP debate to settle the deadlock over the Jelapang state seat in Perak.

“We understand that PSM deputy chairman M Sarasvathy wants to contest. We suggest that both candidates have a friendly debate on local issues.

“The losing side should give up the seat in a gentlemanly manner,” said Haris, who was willing to organise the debate.

Sarasvathy had contested against DAP’s Hee Yit Foong and MCA in 2008.

Hee won the seat but subsequently declared herself as a Barisan Nasional friendly independent and that led to the fall of the Pakatan Rakyat state government in 2009.

Haris said that the civil society wanted a good candidate and Sarasvathy had proven her mettle by braving against her detention under the Emergency Ordinance last year.

In addition to that, he said that DAP already had its opportunity to contest.

“DAP had a chance and its candidate hopped like a frog, so why not give Sarasvathy a chance?” he added.

Haris also reminded Pakatan to avoid a three corner contest because it was as good as giving the seat to BN.

Earlier, PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan told FMT that negotiations at the state had reached a deadlock.

“There is no solution at the state level. We’ll have to wait for the Pakatan supreme council to decide,” he said.

PKR vice-president and Gopeng MP Dr Lee Boon Chye hoped that DAP and PSM “would continue to communicate and resolve the matter amicably.”

“Five months ago, in the Pakatan supreme council meeting we decided Jelapang is DAP’s within Pakatan.

“However negotiations can go on until the eve of nomination day,” he said, admitting that Sarasvathy was a good candidate.