Why PSM should contest in the Kajang by-election

Kuo Yong Kooi, The Malay Mail

In a ‘winner takes all’ electoral system like we have in Malaysia, it is near impossible for minor parties to dictate the direction of policy.

During seat allocation battles the true colours of the bigger political parties usually come out; the minorities are always neglected. The Pakatan opposition pact did just that a few weeks prior to the last GE13. PKR (Parti Keadilan rakyat) forced PSM (Parti Sosialis Malaysia) to drop their fist and red background logo.

DAP (Democratic Action Party) Perak branch did not give an inch to PSM during the Jelapang seat negotiations and PAS (Parti Islam se-Malaysia) fielded their candidate in Kota Damansara at the last minute which forced a three cornered fight and resulted in the loss of an Adun seat by the opposition in the Selangor state assembly.

Pakatan clearly rejected PSM and other smaller parties in East Malaysia, as simply one of their component member parties.

Small political parties should take any opportunity they can to assert their position, if there is seen to be an opening for them to affect a policy change in a big party. The Kajang by-election is one of those once in a blue moon situations where a small party can make an impact in directing a policy change.

In this rare opportunity, PSM can possibly reassert their position and force a change in Pakatan’s policy around not including smaller opposition political parties as their member.

Not expanding the Pakatan memberships to smaller opposition parties is perhaps one of the biggest policy flaws of Pakatan’s Rakyat. The last GE13 results showed that.

There is some truth in Liew Chin Tong’s argument that Anwar Ibrahim (DSAI)’s position as the Selangor Menteri Besar would launch DSAI’s profile to greater heights which hopefully would lead him further down the road to Putrajaya.

One must not lose sight of the bigger picture, where the delineation set up by UMNO requires one to forge coalitions with other minor political parties in East Malaysia. Forming a working coalition with the opposition forces to avoid three or multi-cornered fights in any election in East Malaysia is a major road to Putrajaya.

Managing Selangor state well can only secure Pakatan’s long term position in monopolising the state legislature. It does not necessary provide a direct link into securing seats on the national assembly; the DSAI factor in East Malaysia is not that great. The politicians in East Malaysia have got a sour taste with politicians from the West.

Yes, Anwar Ibrahim is a more seasoned politician than Khalid Ibrahim on all matters political, but the racial and religious vitriol that has been spewing out is a national issue.

Let’s hypothetically assume that DSAI – as a menteri besar – manages to effectively stamp out all potential flash points initiated by the trouble makers that are keen to lead us back to May 13, 1969. The right wing extremists trouble makers can easily initiate new flash point areas in non-Pakatan govern states. The tactical positioning of a savvy politician like DSAI to fodder serious attacks from UMNO in Selangor is a great idea, but Pakatan needs to have a clear united policy and practical tactical responses to these matters nationally.

Unfortunately the ‘Allah’ controversy and other religious issues has split the rank and file of PAS internally. There are strong messages coming from the PAS conservative forces that they are with the UMNO administration on many religious matters and they are not in line with the general agreed Pakatan position. Unless PAS resolve their awkward position, UMNO will always have the upper hand over Pakatan nationally over the current religious controversies.

Putting in DSAI to fodder attacks from UMNO in Selangor can only save Pakatan on the state level; they are still in trouble nationally. Yes, an effective and swift response to the racial and religious controversies can make a difference in the West Malaysian electorate, the same effect towards East Malaysia is doubtful.

To date there is no strong and united front coming out from Pakatan on religious matters that the right wing extremists have been brewing. That is the crux of the matter.

PSM has got nothing to lose if they decide to put a candidate forward in the Kajang by-elections. If they manage to garner more than 2,000 votes which very likely they would, they metaphorically manage to give DSAI a slap on his face for not taking minor opposition political parties seriously. If PSM do not contest in this by-election, Pakatan will be behaving the same as they did previously.

I do not agree with Tony Pua’s assertion that if DSAI loses in this by-election, Pakatan is finished. If DSAI loses in the Kajang by-election, DSAI is finished but not Pakatan. Pakatan is here to stay. Pakatan has changed the political landscape of our country for good.

If DSAI loses, it gives new opportunity for the younger PKR leaders to come to the fore. A new leader that can convince the opposition forces in East Malaysia into the Pakatan coalition. Party hopping was tried in the past and failed miserably, it’s time to drop the whole idea or probably find another leader who have a fresh look at the conundrum in East Malaysia if DSAI loses in the Kajang by-election.

Pakatan needs to change it strategy and policies on a few fronts. One major change that is badly needed is to look into forging a united front with all the opposition forces in East and West Malaysia. Failure to do that, GE14 will be a repeat of GE13.

DAP’s “Impian Sabah and Sarawak” strategy is a great one. That can expand DAP influence in the eastern states. At the end of the day some kind of compromise and negotiations are still needed if there are genuine opposition forces that do not want to work with political ideas/manoeuvres from West Malaysia. If these opposition forces decide to force a three or multi-cornered fight in an election, it can only disadvantage the opposition.

Looking at what has been happening lately with the consistency of the UMNO administration in letting loose the demon of the potential religious and racial riots, any reconciliation talks with them is an utter waste of time. A reconciliation talk with all the opposition forces in Malaysia is more productive.

A win by DSAI in the Kajang by-election is a very high probability. A smaller margin win by DSAI because PSM is contesting will send a strong message to Pakatan to rethink their position and respect smaller opposition forces. This might be a turning point by-election for Pakatan to reconsider PSM and other smaller political parties membership into their pact and Kajang is the right place for PSM to make that impact.