Karpal: Better for PSM to be in Pakatan

The Star – It is better for Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) to be in Pakatan Rakyat instead of being ‘on the outside’ and creating three-cornered fights in the general election five years from now, said DAP national chairman Karpal Singh.

“I think it is better for the application to be reconsidered. Pakatan should be inclusive.

“If not it doesn’t make sense. PSM stood on a PKR ticket and won the Sungai Siput MP seat.

“So I can’t see any reason why PSM can’t be accepted as a component party of Pakatan,” Karpal Singh told a press conference in Air Itam Saturday.

The seat was PSM’s only electoral victory, with PSM’s parliamentary leader Dr Michael D Jeyakumar retaining his position as MP.

“No reason was given on why the PSM’s application to join Pakatan Rakyat was rejected.

“PSM was not happy with PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang‘s statement that members of PSM promote communism. They are not communist, they are socialist; and it is their right,” he said.

Karpal added that PSM should be given the opportunity to be in Pakatan and at the same time have its own ideology.

“As long as there is no serious contradiction. PAS has its own Islamic and hudud aspiration, that is its right. DAP’s right is to oppose such aspirations.

“But the bigger picture which is of public interest is that there should be a two-party system,” he added.