DAP’s Ngeh muscling out PSM?
Sources from Perak PSM and DAP confirmed the rift between them following both parties’ interests in contesting the Jelapang state seat.
G Vinod, FMT
There seems to be no love lost between Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) and Perak DAP, with both vying for the “infamous” Jelapang seat.
Although DAP is outwardly cordial, many remember that the party had issued a quiet boycott against PSM last year over its interest in contesting in Jelapang.
Speaking to FMT, a PSM source said the boycott, although denied by DAP Perak, was “in force” between July and November last year and the “loop” had extended to its fellow Pakatan Rakyat partners who declined PSM invitations to the latter’s functions.
“It started in July last year. Former menteri besar Nizar Jamaluddin was supposed to attend one of our events. He intially agreed and we put up banners informing the public of his attendance.
“But all of a sudden, he decided not to turn up. We thought it was an isolated incident but then we noticed that many Pakatan leaders, especially from DAP, decided not to attend many of our programmes,” said the source.
Upon investigation, the source alleged they learnt that the state DAP leadership had ordered a boycott of PSM’s events in the state.
On who issued the boycott, the source refused to divulge names, saying the matter was resolved after the Pakatan leadership in Perak had a closed-door meeting and revoked the Perak DAP’s boycott.
But now the issues have re-surfaced.
According to the source, Pakatan and PSM are still discussing which party will contest in Jelapang but the DAP grapevine is spilling otherwise.
Ngeh-Nga culprits
In 2008, DAP won the Jelapang state seat through Hee Yit Foong. Hee, alongwith two other PKR elected representatives, defected to Barisan Nasional causing the democratically elected Pakatan government to fall to BN in a reverse takeover.
Said the PSM source: “We all know the current Jelapang state assemblyperson [Hee] was formerly a DAP member before becoming BN-friendly and caused the Pakatan state government to collapse in 2009.
“Despite all that, we continued to serve in Jelapang and the people there know us well. We even have three service centres at the area now.
“DAP must understand that there is no longer a place called traditional seat after 2008. Race-based politics is also becoming a relic of the past.
“In 2008, people looked at the party symbol first, then the candidate. But the situation now is reversed. It’s the candidate first, then party,” said the source.
Meanwhile, a Perak DAP insider, when contacted, confirmed that a boycott was issued against PSM last year.
The insider even accused Perak DAP chief Ngeh Koo Ham and secretary Nga Khor Ming of being behind the boycott. The duo are cousins.
“Ngeh and Nga tried in every possible way to work in an unfriendly manner with PSM,” said the insider.
The insider also alleged that the DAP leaders issued a a threat against PSM not to go for the Jelapang seat.
“The brothers said that they will field a DAP candidate for the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat if PSM insisted on the Jelapang state seat,” alleged the DAP insider.
