Tuesday April 9, 2013

GE13: PSM staying put in Jelapang

SUNGAI SIPUT: Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) will not back down from its decision to field a candidate in the Jelapang state seat even if it means taking on the DAP and Barisan Nasional.

Central committee member Dr Michael Jeyakumar, who is Sungai Siput MP, said they are “hoping for a miracle” that the DAP will relent and allow PSM deputy chairman M. Sarasvathy to take on the Barisan in the general election.

“Of course, we prefer a one-to-one fight with the Barisan but if the DAP insists on contesting, then ... may the best candidate win,” Dr Jeyakumar told a press conference here yesterday.

At the last polls, Perak state assembly deputy speaker Datuk Hee Yit Foong had won the seat on a DAP ticket.

She left the party in early 2009, sparking controversy by declaring herself to be a Barisan-friendly independent assemblyman.

She recently offered to defend the seat as a Barisan candidate but this was objected to by the MCA, which wants to field its candidate.

In the meantime, the DAP has re-staked its claim on the seat, leading to rocky ties with PSM.

Perak DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham has reportedly sent a blanket text message to all party representatives, barring them from attending ceramah organised by PSM.

Dr Jeyakumar said 71% of the electorate voted against the Barisan in 2008, adding that the opposition could still win there even in a three-cornered fight.

For more election stories, please visit The Star's GE13 site

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