[UPDATED] GE15: PSM to contest in Rembau, Ayer Kuning

KUALA LUMPUR – Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) will be contesting in the Rembau parliamentary seat and Perak's Ayer Kuning state constituency for the 15th general election (GE15).

PSM deputy chairman S. Arulchelvan said the party had chosen these seats based on its presence in the areas, which have a high concentration of working-class communities.

During a press conference this evening, Arulchelvan said the party has also chosen to not contest in a seat that was previously held by Pakatan Harapan, despite PSM’s failure to reach an electoral pact with the opposition coalition.

“This is to show that we are not vindictive against Pakatan Harapan even though we could not cooperate with them,” he said during the presser at the Kuala Lumpur And Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, here, this evening. 

“PSM will not join any other coalition such as BN or PN. For this GE, we will contest alone without cooperation, and our members can support and assist candidates for other parties that are progressive, shown good performance, and are with the people.”

In Rembau, PSM will be fielding 45-year-old tuition teacher and social activist Tinagaran Subramaniam, also known as Cikgu Tina.

As for the Ayer Kuning seat in Perak, the party will be sending 36-year-old lawyer and activist Bawani KS, who went viral back in 2013 as the student who stood up against forum panellist Sharifah Zohra Jabeen in what is famously known as the “Listen! Listen! When I speak, listen!” incident.

Asked about the multi-cornered fight in Rembau that will see a PKR candidate run there, Arulchelven insisted that PSM was not going against its stance of not running in PH incumbent seats.

“PH is contesting in all seats, but we are not contesting in PH incumbent seats, because we do not want to be seen as taking revenge (on the coalition).”

PSM’s run in Rembau would also see the socialist party candidate go up against Umno top gun Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and a PKR candidate.

Arulchelvan said although contesting in the seats is highly challenging due to the party's decision to run solo, the socialist outfit believed that it was important not to sit out the election, as it is important to propagate its leftist politics.

Meanwhile, PSM chairman Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj also announced that he will not be standing in the Sg Siput parliamentary seat for the first time since 1999. 

“BN and PH are contesting there and it will be a tough fight. If PSM is in the mix, PH might lose and PSM could be blamed for it,” Dr Michael said.

“While our members in Sg Siput don’t want BN, but they also prefer PH.” – The Vibes, November 2, 2022