This
will be discussed at tonight’s emergency national committee meeting
called last night following PKR’s announcement of its own candidate for
Semenyih, Selangor.According to PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan (right), PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has thus reneged on his promise to hold off announcing the seat as negotiations were in progress for PSM to contest there.
On the agenda for the PSM meeting are:
- To review its position to stand in the four seats using its own logo;
- To discuss the current development where Pakatan Rakyat is three-cornering PSM in all its seats and its relationship with Pakatan Rakyat;
- To discuss and decide on the request made by non-PSM members, mostly members from DAP and PKR, who want to stand using PSM logo in some areas. To date, there have been 10 requests - two from Sabah, one from Perak, three from Negeri Sembilan and four from Selangor; and
- To discuss the request made by environmental groups and Cameron Highlands PSM to field its candidate for the Cameron Highlands seat.
Arutchelvan contested in Semenyih in 2008 and garnered 10,448 votes but lost to Umno’s Johan Aziz by a margin of 1,140 votes.
The PSM leader said in a statement today his party was “shocked” to learn of Anwar’s announcement last night of Serdang PKR division chief Hamidi Haasan for the Semenyih seat.
“This decision was made in spite of PSM agreeing to stand under PKR logo in Semenyih. “The Kota Damansara seat was not announced pending negotiations with PSM. We also heard that PKR has also prepared a parachute candidate to stand in Sungai Siput,” Arutchelvan said.
Meanwhile, at PKR’s press conference today, the party’s director of strategy Rafizi Ramli downplayed the meeting as a process that PSM needed to go through with its members, just as PKR did when it allowed PSM to contest in seats where its members feel PKR is most eligible.
“That was dealt with internally, and I think that’s why the electoral pact was possible in 2008...
“At the end of the day, let’s see how this prevails over the next two or three days. I have full trust in the leadership of both PSM and PKR that they will do their best not to hamper the mood of change in this country,” he said.
PKR: Semenyih on loan
Selangor PKR deputy chairperson Zuraida Kamaruddin added that the deal in 2008 was that PSM may contest in Semenyih under PKR’s ticket, but would have to return the seat if it loses. Regardless, PSM-PKR negotiations are still ongoing.
When
queried why is a candidate was announced in Semenyih if it was not
finalised, unlike what was done with the Kota Damansara seat, she
replied, “You can look at it this way - PKR has candidates to offer in
these seats. “As Rafizi said, we want to work for the best and we will wait for another two or three days. If there is nothing better, then we will go with that decision and bring down BN,” she said.
The PKR-PSM tiff began when PKR became adamant that the three seats PSM wanted to contest in Selangor and Perak should be done under the PKR banner and not on PSM’s.
PSM has argued that since it is now a registered political party, it should its own banner unlike the situation in 2008 when it had no choice but to contest under the PKR ticket.
According to Arutchelvan, the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat in Perak is also facing trouble with Pakatan Rakyat.
“We were also shocked to learn that previously Dr D Jeyakumar was informed that he could defend his Sungai Siput seat under the PSM logo, but during the discussions with Anwar, we were told that if he did so, the DAP will field a candidate against him,” he said.
Meanwhile,
PSM has also been negotiating for the Jelapang state seat in Perak with
DAP. Arutchelvan said they had been promised the seat, but on the
condition it is contested under the PKR banner.However, he said, the DAP has now gone back on the promise.
“We have requested that an NGO committee decides on the Jelapang seat, and we will adhere to that decision,” he said.
DAP won the Jelapang seat in 2008 with Hee Yit Foong (left), who subsequently defected to become a BN-friendly Independent to pave the way for BN’s takeover of the Perak.
Arutchelvan said that PSM had been promised that if it wins seats under the PKR banner in 2008, it would be allowed to use its own logo subsequently. However, this is not happening.
PKR faces flak in cyberspace
Anwar’s decision last night stirred a backlash on Facebook and Twitter against the party and its candidates.
Among others, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall civil rights committee head Liau Kok Fah said on his Facebook that since Anwar promised to help PSM in its campaign, he should continue to do so even if PSM is “forced into a three-cornered fight” with PKR and BN.
Meanwhile, more than 100 netizens have tweeted on the issue on #Arul4Semenyih since last night.
"PKR
is a party with many honest activists led by a bunch of scumbags. They
are not yet in power, but are already bullying the activists," tweeted
netizen Kris Khaira.Another user, Rahmah Ghazali, wrote, "I seriously think PSM should review its allegiance to Pakatan. They are not yet in power, but already bullying."
Stephen Doss tweeted, “What’s the difference between grabbing (Semenyih) and Sarawak CM Taib Mahmud grabbing in Sarawak? In principle, none!”
Meanwhile, columnist Josh Hong posted on the PKR Facebook page:
"Stop being arrogant, both PKR and DAP. PSM is one of the hardest working parties in Malaysia and I am convinced Arul, Nasir (Hashim, above right) and Dr Jeyakumar are the best candidates for Semenyih, Kota Damansara and Sungai Siput respectively.
"Jelapang should be given to them too. If you cannot in opposition even concede four seats to a small but genuine party, how can we be sure you would not behave like Umno when you are in government?"
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