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PSM: Minimal cooperation with Pakatan, no to National Front
Malaysia Kini - September 10, 2008
Syed Jaymal Zahiid – The PSM, which is now an officially recognised political party, will continue to cooperate with the opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat on a 'minimal programme' basis.
On the same note, it's secretary-general S. Arutchelvan had reporters and party members in stitches when he declared: "We will never join BN (Barisan Nasional), we can guarantee you that." He said if PSM is invited to join Pakatan Rakyat, the matter will have to be discussed by its congress before any decision can be made.
Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, he also stressed that the socialist party, which claims to have some 10,000 members, will remain as opposition.
After a decade long struggle to obtain official recognition as a legitimate outfit, PSM received the green light from the Registrar of Societies (ROS) in a letter dated Aug 19.
Given PSM's new status, one question expected to be addressed is the status of its elected representatives: Kota Damansara state assemblyperson Dr Mohd Nasir Hashim and Sungai Siput member of parliament Dr Michael D Jeyakumar.
'Continue to fight for justice'
Commenting on this, Arutchelvan said both the representatives will remain independent in their views and continue to raise issues that are inline with the party's beliefs in their respective avenues.
"They will continue to fight for justice and for the people, a belief that defines PSM. Just because we contested under the PKR flag does not mean we have to carry their views," he said.
"We already sent letters to the Speakers from both the Parliament and the state assembly to have their party's name changed to PSM now that we have the official status," he added.
In the March 8 polls, both Jeyakumar and Nasir had to stand under the PKR flag as election laws state that only parties recognised by the ROS can contest. The change of name will not affect the opposition numbers in Parliament and the Selangor state assembly since PSM made it clear that it would remain as opposition.
Currently the opposition, comprising PKR, DAP, PAS and PSM, have 81 seats as opposed to BN's 140 in Parliament. In the state assembly, the opposition controls 36 state seats while BN has 20.
Differences in opinion
During PSM's recent congress in Port Dickson, one of the resolutions proposed by members was not to join the Pakatan coalition due to ideological differences.
Speaking on this, Arutchelvan said PSM and other Pakatan parties have always had differences in opinion on economic matters, in particular the issue of free trade.
PSM has always been against the free trade market ideology advocated by certain quarters within the ranks of other Pakatan parties.
"We believe that the free market ideology is here to crush and enslave workers. We have different perspectives (from other Pakatan parties) on policies of economics," said Arutchelvan.
However, he also noted that PSM recognises the existence of certain 'progressive elements' that share similar views with the socialist party in other Pakatan parties and will continue to cooperate with these elements.
Meanwhile, Nasir, who was also present at the press conference, said cooperation based on these similar ideas will constitute what the party calls "minimal programmes."
Labelled as 'the socialist in PAS' by PSM members, PAS vice-president Mohamad Sabu who was also present backed Nasir's view.
"Yes, we have small differences but the similarities between both the parties are bigger and we should focus on the bigger similarities instead of the smaller differences," he said.
Both Nasir and Arutchelvan said PSM will now intensify its efforts to expand its membership and register the current ones.
"Before we were registered, we cannot say that our supporters were members as the law states that only registered parties can have members.
"This will change now and we will work towards registering our supporters and expanding the membership as well," said Arutchelvan.
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