PSM is questioning Pakatan Harapan’s indecision on whether PSM chairperson Dr Michael Jeyakumar can contest in the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat as part of an electoral pact with the coalition.
PSM deputy chairperson S Arulchelvan is asking this because Jeyakumar (above), a two-term Sungai Siput incumbent, is a winnable candidate with a track record, for he succeeded in ousting BN heavyweight S Samy Vellu from his hold on that seat for eight terms.
However, regardless of their decision, Arulchelvan said PSM was urging Harapan to call for discussions on the electoral pact and decide because they were all running out of time for candidates to campaign.
“The delay will only benefit its opponents,” he said.
Arulchelvan said PSM has not heard from Harapan and negotiations have not commenced. And there was still no proper channel for discussion.
“The pact is agreeable with the exception of Jeyakumar’s candidacy in their incumbent seats.
“The delay is among them (Harapan) because they have not discussed anything with us.
“Even if Jeyakumar is not given the seat, at least let us know your decision,” he said, adding that delaying the discussions would only make things difficult for all parties.
‘Jeyakumar will boost Harapan portfolio’
Arulchelvan explained that they were urged by many to work with Harapan, “but we are not pushing hard for this but what is good for the citizens is good for us.”
The Election Commission is expected to announce polling dates tomorrow and Muda, which had initially approached Harapan to join the coalition as a component party, was just offered an electoral pact and it is also mulling going solo.
Owing to the delayed response from Harapan, a well-placed source from Muda told Malaysiakini that Muda is mulling going solo.
The source said that there is still no official discussion of seat negotiations between Muda and Harapan to date.
“Harapan should think if they want someone like Jeyakumar representing them this election because he will boost the Harapan portfolio if he contests there under the coalition’s banner.
“Sungai Siput is not an easy seat to win because it was held by the first MIC leader, VT Sambanthan, and then by Samy Vellu.
“Many have contested there, including P Patto and even Jeyakumar lost in his first two attempts,” Arulchelvan recalled.
Arulchelvan said although Sungai Siput was a seat that Harapan won in 2018, it was due to the general wave in the 14th general election that came in favour of the opposition.
He explained that Jeyakumar had many years of experience working with communities in Sungai Siput since his student days in 1977.
“We have not spoken to the incumbent candidate, Kesavan Subramaniam, because we have been communicating through official channels. However, Kesavan himself has made an official statement that he would leave the decision to the leadership,” he explained.
What PSM brings to the pact
Arulchelvan said PSM was the first and only political party in Malaysia whose top leadership consists of a two-thirds majority of women.
“A total of 11 out of 16 members who were elected to the party’s central committee are women - which equals 68.75 percent of the leadership.
“Every candidate will declare their assets prior to contesting in an election and will pledge to abide by party policy that their campaigns will not be based on racial sentiments,” he said.
Arulchelvan said depending on the outcome of the electoral pact with Harapan, PSM was looking to contest federal constituency seats in Johor, Selangor, Kelantan, Perak, Penang and Pahang and state legislative seats in Perak.
He said the party was advocating stronger policies that involved the people and moving away from the current “handout-centric” policies.
The party candidates have years of experience working with grassroots communities, the urban poor, contract cleaners and mostly the working class across the peninsula, he added. - Mkini
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