Jeyakumar explains why he is not contesting in Sungai Siput again
PSM chairman Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj said the party did not want to get in between PH and BN.
KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) chairman Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj said he decided against contesting the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat in the coming general election because PSM does not garner many votes in constituencies with strong support for Pakatan Harapan.
“That’s the reality and we have seen it happen before,” he told reporters after the party announced its candidates for the 15th general election.
Jeyakumar also said he decided against standing for the seat as PSM did not want to give the impression it was taking revenge against the opposition coalition for deciding not to have an electoral pact with his party.
Jeyakumar won the seat in 2008 and retained it in the following general election. In both instances, he contested under the PKR banner.
In the 14th general election, Jeyakumar lost the seat in a four-cornered fight. He only managed to get 1,505 votes while PKR’s S Kesavan won with 20,817 votes.
Jeyakumar also said the party did not want to get in the way of the contest between PH and BN in Sungai Siput as this could reduce PH’s opportunity to win.
“If PSM is in the contest, there is a high chance that PH may lose, and they will blame us for it.”
Jeyakumar said PSM’s members and supporters in Sungai Siput would vote for PH as they did not want BN to win.
“If both (PSM and PH) lose, our members and supporters won’t be happy,” he said.
Yesterday, PKR defended PH’s decision not to form an electoral alliance with PSM over the Sungai Siput seat, arguing that the constituency was won under the PKR banner in the past.
PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said it was not about giving PSM a chance, but which party had the best chance, including in terms of election machinery.
KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) chairman Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj said he decided against contesting the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat in the coming general election because PSM does not garner many votes in constituencies with strong support for Pakatan Harapan.
“That’s the reality and we have seen it happen before,” he told reporters after the party announced its candidates for the 15th general election.
Jeyakumar also said he decided against standing for the seat as PSM did not want to give the impression it was taking revenge against the opposition coalition for deciding not to have an electoral pact with his party.
Jeyakumar won the seat in 2008 and retained it in the following general election. In both instances, he contested under the PKR banner.
In the 14th general election, Jeyakumar lost the seat in a four-cornered fight. He only managed to get 1,505 votes while PKR’s S Kesavan won with 20,817 votes.
Jeyakumar also said the party did not want to get in the way of the contest between PH and BN in Sungai Siput as this could reduce PH’s opportunity to win.
“If PSM is in the contest, there is a high chance that PH may lose, and they will blame us for it.”
Jeyakumar said PSM’s members and supporters in Sungai Siput would vote for PH as they did not want BN to win.
“If both (PSM and PH) lose, our members and supporters won’t be happy,” he said.
Yesterday, PKR defended PH’s decision not to form an electoral alliance with PSM over the Sungai Siput seat, arguing that the constituency was won under the PKR banner in the past.
PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said it was not about giving PSM a chance, but which party had the best chance, including in terms of election machinery.
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