Confusion over PSM’s bid to join Pakatan
PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said PSM’s application to join the Opposition coalition was rejected before the general election
(The Star) – Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s (PSM) bid to join Pakatan Rakyat appears to be mired in confusion, with conflicting statements being made on the matter.
In the latest turn of events, PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said PSM’s application to join the Opposition coalition was rejected before the general election, concurring with PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution‘s statement on the matter last week.
Mustafa said the rejection was over the party’s clenched fist logo, with which some were uncomfortable.
“It was decided in a meeting before GE13 that we’d remain friendly, but PSM was rejected as a full member of Pakatan,” he told The Star Online, adding that he supposed the party had been “informed verbally” about its rejection
However, Pakatan executive secretary Ahmad Shabrimi Sidek insisted that the coalition “had yet to decide” on PSM’s application to join.
“Maybe they will discuss it at the presidential meeting next month, but Datuk Saifuddin Nasution was mistaken. Maybe he misunderstood, there were many meetings before elections,” Ahmad Shabrimi added.
Saifuddin told The Star Online last Friday that PSM’s application to join Pakatan had been rejected before GE13.
However, he declined to provide a reason why. The PKR leader could not be reached for further comment.
DAP chairman Karpal Singh had later expressed surprise that PSM’s application was rejected, saying he felt it should be considered favourably.
However, a source confirmed that Karpal had not been at the meeting when the decision was made.
DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang has refused to comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, PSM secretary-general S. Arutchelvan said he hoped Pakatan would issue an official letter clearly stating its position.
During GE13, PSM and Pakatan had a number of clashes over seat allocations, resulting in multi-corner fights in three state seats.
Arutchelvan told the press last month that the party would be re-evaluating its ties with Pakatan after losing the supposedly “safe” seat of Kota Damansara, and not winning Semenyih or Jelapang.
PSM’s only electoral victory was in Sungai Siput, with Dr Michael Jeyakumar retaining his position as MP.
In Kota Damansara, PSM president Nasir Hashim had to face off not only an Umno candidate and three independents, but also PAS’ Ridzuan Ismail, despite Nasir running on a PKR ticket.
In Semenyih, Arutchelvan used PSM’s clenched fist logo and ran against Umno’s Johan Abdul Aziz and PKR’s Hamidi Hassan.
In Jepalang, PSM’s M. Sarasvathy faced down an MIC candidate and an opponent from DAP.
