PSM says Pakatan Harapan giving it the run-around

(FMT) – We are prepared to cooperate with them as we consider ourselves part of the opposition, but they are not giving us space to talk

PSM is seeking talks with Pakatan Harapan with a view to finding a formula for collaboration in facing the 14th general election.

“We are prepared to cooperate with them as we consider ourselves part of the opposition, but they are not giving us space to talk,” PSM’s Michael Jeyakumar told FMT.

“We made the first move by asking PKR to decide on the matter as far back as two years ago. Since then, we’ve been asking for talks, but all we get is the run-around.

“We want to talk to someone who has the mandate to actually give us answers. So now we have to see if we can still talk to PKR.”

The two-term Sungai Siput MP said Pakatan Harapan would find it easy to accommodate PSM because his party was not asking to contest for many seats.

“We’re asking for only 15 seats out of the 727 state and Parliament seats available for contest. We can negotiate even on that number.”

Jeyakumar warned that Sungai Siput could go back to Barisan Nasional if a third party were to join the contest there.

“A three-corner fight will not benefit PSM or PH in constituencies where the majorities were slim in previous elections,” he said.

“It is a different story if a three-corner fight takes place in a place like Batu Gajah, where the majority was more than 38,000. The anti-BN feeling is so high there that a competition between opposition parties will not result in the seat going to BN.

“Seats like Sungai Siput and Cameron Highlands are potentially winnable opposition seats, but three-corner fights there will be a gift to BN.”

Jeyakumar said all PSM wanted was a chance to earn its place in the sun.

Citing a Merdeka Centre study, he said: “We are facing the possibility of a two-third majority for BN in the next Parliament. PH needs to do all it can to save as many seats as possible, even if that means giving PSM 10 to 15 seats.

“Obviously the previous suggestion that I stand under the PKR banner will not be suitable for PSM as our party will offer the people something different from PKR.

“The whole point of democracy is to give the public different options. If our option is the same as PKR’s, then we should have joined PKR in the first place, but the fact is we didn’t and this shows that we have a different vision for the country.

“A healthy democracy is about allowing different visions to be promoted.”