PSM, PKR at loggerheads in Sg Siput

The two parties are squabbling over the use of PSM logo for the coming general election.

PETALING JAYA: A three-cornered fight is likely for the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat at the upcoming general election.

This is because Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), which contested the seat at the 2008 general election under the PKR banner, wants to use its own logo to fight for the seat – much to the dismay of PKR.

This infighting between PSM and PKR has brightened MIC’s chances of winning back the seat, which it lost at the 2008 general election.

A PKR insider told FMT that the party could field its own candidate at the next general election since PSM had rejected several attempts by PKR to ensure that its logo is used by PSM candidates at the polls.

“It looks like PSM is not keen on contesting under the PKR banner. Instead, it wants to use its own logo at the next election. We are still having discussions with PSM on the matter. If it insists, then we have no choice but to nominate our own candidate.

“PKR fears that the PSM symbol will drive away Malay votes due to its leftist significance,” said the source.

PSM is a socialist political party established in 1998. At the 2008 polls, the party contested one parliamentary and three state assembly seats.

Since the party has yet to receive recognition from the Register of Society (ROS), its three candidates contested under the PKR banner while in one state seat (Jelapang, Perak), it contested as an independent.

Jackpot for BN

The party won the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat when its candidate Dr Micheal Jayakumar defeated former MIC president S Samy Vellu. PSM president Dr Nasir Hashim won the Kota Damansara state seat in Selangor.

The Sungai Siput constituency in Perak had been under the helm of Samy Vellu since 1974. Jayakumar beat the MIC chief with a 1,821 vote majority.

The seat has 47,424 voters. The Chinese form the majority in the seat accounting for 41% of total voters. They are followed by Malays (31%), Indians (21%) and Orang Asli (seven percent.

PSM lost the other two state assembly seats, namely Jelapang and Semenyih, Selangor.

Despite being Pakatan Rakyat-friendly, PSM has yet to be officially declared as the opposition pact’s component party.

“If PKR decides to field its own candidates in PSM constituencies, then it would be a jackpot for Barisan Nasional,” said the PKR source.

He said without doubt any MIC candidate in Sungai Siput would “cruise to an easy win” if there was a three-cornered tussle.

“It is clear that Malays will play a vital role in deciding the next member of parliament. Formerly the seat was under the 50-50 category. But if there is a three-cornered fight, it will definitely favour the BN,” said the source.