YOURSAY | ‘DAP has shown its true colours – that it will not brook dissent.’

What has PSM done that's worse than Bersatu's past, asks MP

Kingfisher: Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s (PSM) sole MP, Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, is perplexed over the party’s exclusion from Pakatan Harapan’s seat negotiations, given the amount of support PSM has given to Harapan components in the past. Additionally, DAP has already announced plans to contest in Jeyakumar's Sungai Siput seat.

Even strongly sympathetic supporters of PSM's socio-economic equity policy initiatives for the downtrodden may find it hard to agree that PSM can continue to claim a "Lone Ranger" format to make a difference to the present discontentment felt by many Malaysians.

Jeyakumar's reflections in the article (“...our options are either to close shop or to stand for elections... If we wanted to just be activists, we wouldn't have set up a party") requires some insightful acknowledgement especially after PSM’s recent three electoral experiences.

Some might suggest that its party leaders or members can better serve the public as activists or an NGO, rather than as a political party.

Wira: I cannot understand why PSM is eyeing DAP seats. There are already too many political parties in the opposition bench.

Why can't PSM just disband and join one of the component parties of Harapan? Unless the first-past-the-post rule is changed for elections to the legislative bodies, small parties are not favoured.

Cogito Ergo Sum: I hope PSM wins by a huge margin. Why? Harapan leaders are divided amongst themselves and have taken the electorate for granted.

By seeking revenge to save face, DAP had shown its true colours – it will not brook dissent. Harapan is self-destructing and the fuse was lit by themselves.

Disgusted: I really don't understand why Harapan is so cocky as to neglect PSM and sideline them. Jeyakumar is 100 percent right about his party's stand and they deserve the support of the rakyat.

If they stand in Jelapang, Sungai Siput and Kota Damansara, I hope the rakyat who are anti-BN will support their candidate and make them win and not vote for Harapan, even if it leads to a three-cornered fight.

I wish PSM all the luck and they deserve to be in the Malaysian political scene for their unwavering principles, humbleness of its candidates and hard work that they have put in without fear or favour for the downtrodden and marginalised.

Spinnot: PSM was formed and has survived till today because the former socialist party, Parti Rakyat Malaysia, was dissolved and merged with Parti Keadilan to become Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

PSM will survive as long as it does not steer too far to the left.

Contesting Sg Siput will muddy Harapan’s credential as a reformer

Proarte: Malaysiakini contributor Terence Netto - Jeyakumar is no doubt a responsible MP, and if he seriously wants to serve the people of Sungai Siput, then he should negotiate to fight under a DAP ticket, or better still, join the DAP.

PSM cannot be taken seriously if it always has to ride on the coattails of other parties. Why not test their support in Sungai Siput for once by contesting independently? Does socialism need a “tongkat” (crutch) from capitalists to survive?

PSM should put its money where its mouth is and contest in multi-cornered fights. May the candidate who has the most support from the rakyat win.

Powerstar: Proarte failed to understand that in 2004, DAP gave a condition to Jeyakumar to stand as a DAP candidate or lose the seat. PSM, then not registered, asked PKR to loan its symbol. DAP decided to make it a three-cornered fight.

While Jeyakumar lost to MIC chief S Samy Vellu, he beat DAP. The DAP candidate even lost his deposit. Jeyakumar eventually defeated Samy Vellu four years later in 2008.

Shunyata: If I'm Harapan, I would make an ally out of Jeyakumar. His approval is worth a lot more than his scorn.

DAP should stop using Islam as a political tool

David Dass: Dear Malaysiakini contributor Commander (Rtd) S Thayaparan, PSM is probably the only party in the country that is genuinely pursuing social and economic justice and Jeyakumar stands out as a sincere and committed socialist determined to improve the lot of the ordinary man, irrespective of race.

It is not difficult to understand the DAP position. Socialism would be anathema to a party built on capitalist ideology. This is why the absence of a common manifesto makes the opposition coalition an extremely fragile and unstable one.

Additionally, DAP's statement that it supports Islamisation based on the Constitution does not make any sense. In their anxiety to obtain Malay support, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang has made a statement that baffles and confuses.

There is the agenda of the Islamists - to make us an Islamic state and replace the Constitution with syariah. And there are those who are opposed to that agenda. Those who are opposed to that agenda simply defend the Constitution and assert their constitutional rights.

Any other stance would imperil the democratic structures set out in the Constitution - our supreme law. Ambiguity does not help. No one is opposed to Islam. Freedom of worship is a guaranteed right. Everyone is free to worship in accordance with their own religious beliefs.

In addition, Muslims are supported by the state like no other. It is not wrong for non-Muslims to say, stay with the Constitution. No other change is necessary.

Drngsc: Thayaparan, this piece is way out of your usual, well-balanced views. PSM has done much good work at the grassroots level, especially Jeyakumar.

However, some of the other leaders have characters that do not come across so well. Added to that, PSM’s logo - an upraised clenched fist against a red backdrop - is truly unacceptable at the level of rural folks.

These are genuine concerns, especially when we wish for moderation and not extremism (read communism) and violence.

Secondly, upholding the Constitution cannot be wrong. What we have in Malaysia are leaders, including parliamentarians, who trample on the Constitution with impunity, often, aided by the courts. Asking all Malaysians to uphold the Constitution cannot be wrong.

Fairplayer: If PSM is doing fine in Sungai Siput, let them have the seat. As for religion, let it be ''to each his own'' as long as it contributes to a sound society and the well-being of the nation.

Any destructive element, be it religious or otherwise, must be nipped in the bud.

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.

These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.