They are cutting us off, says Sungai Siput MP

PETALING JAYA: While most parties seem to have finalised their candidates, Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s (PSM) are in a scrap with opposition parties over 16 seats.

Incumbent Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj (pic), who dethroned former MIC president Tun S. Samy Vellu in 2008, is being allowed to stand in only that one seat.

The Opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan is asking his party to for get plans to contest in five parliamentary seats and 11 state seats.

PSM has already drafted its list of candidates for the 16 seats.

“They (Pakatan Harapan) are asking for too much. If they are prepared to allow us to contest in eight seats and ask us to stand down from another eight, we can consider.

“They are prepared to give me Sungai Siput on a PKR ticket if PSM does not stand in seats like Cameron Highlands, Semenyih and Kota Damansara. Including Sungai Siput, these are the seats where we are fairly strong in,” he said.

Dr Jeyakumar said two senior MPs from PKR and DAP initiated talks with him about the matter last week.

He added that he will be discussing the matter with the duo to strike a reasonable deal for PSM. If the deal cannot be agreed upon, PSM will go it alone in the 16 seats.

“Since 2011, we have always said we will work with them but they haven’t reciprocated. Even when they formed Pakatan Harapan and held seat negotiations, we were not invited.

“We are in a difficult situation ... we want them to do well but then they are not giving us much space.

“They are completely marginalising us, that is our dilemma,” said Dr Jeyakumar.

He added that in the Sungai Siput and Cameron Highlands parliamentary seats and the Semenyih and Kota Damansara state seats, a threecornered fight will lead to a Barisan Nasional victory.

Dr Jeyakumar said PSM just wanted to get a few people in state assemblies so that it can bring up different perspectives on certain issues which will add value to the Opposition.

“We believe our party has got a contribution to make to the Malaysian society.

“We have certain approaches that are useful to Malaysia. We can’t let it die because Pakatan doesn’t want to give us space.

“The bigger picture for us is to go on beyond this election or the next one. We think in the longer term.”