PH-PSM electoral pact off

SHAH ALAM - Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) electoral pact with Pakatan Harapan coalition is off after no seat was given to the party, said election director S. Arutchelvan.

PSM had asked for Sungai Siput Parliamentary seat with chairperson Dr Jeyakumar as the candidate, as well as two other alternate non-incumbent Parliament seats held by BN if that request was denied.

They also requested 3 non-incumbent state seats held by BN, although they are satisfied enough with any Parliament seat and two state seats.

In a statement, Arutchelvan said they were informed through an official letter from Pakatan Harapan today that PSM’s minimum request for a seat was rejected.

"Without a single seat given, we understand that PH does not desire an electoral pact with PSM.

"We regret that the matter was informed to us so late," he said.

He said PSM had requested for an electoral pact with PH as it was the desire of party members, supporters and the civil society for the party not to stand alone “but join a coalition".

He also said the party was disappointed in PH for their lack of efforts to hasten the process or find a way to make their coalition work despite PSM’s numerous efforts to do so.

“We are also aware that many people hoping for us to work together with PH will be disappointed; as well as those who keep telling us, ‘Didn’t I tell you’ will feel vindicated. “We would just like to tell our members and supporters that we have tried. The pact is over but not the struggle,” he said.

He said after evaluating all the existing coalitions - Barisan Nasional, Perikatan Nasional, PH had decided to start an electoral pact with PH "which is seen as the most multiracial and progressive coalition among the three."

The party viewed GE15 as a difficult election for PH considering the existing conditions and recent state elections' results, hence their decision to mobilise their machinery and grassroots for the party.