1. PSM has always advocated for local Government election. We have also started a leaflet campaign on this last year. PSM Councillors took an undertaking that they will resign when there is a call to do so and when the campaign intensifies. Meanwhile PSM agreed to participate in the Councils in Selangor and Perak to help the newly formed PR Government.
2. PSM was offered 3 council seats - 2 in Kota Damansara (one MBPJ and MBSA) and this was the assurance from the MB in 2008. Meanwhile another council seat was given in MPKJ where PSM stood in the Semenyih state seat in 2008.
3. In the last election 2008 - PSM stood under PKR logo (in 1999 - stood under DAP logo) because PSM was not given a registration. Our agreement with DAP and PKR leaders were clear that we are borrowing their logo to stand in elections and once the party is registered, we will use back our own logo. In all those elections, PSM used its own manifesto, flew the PSM flag besides the PKR flag and all our candidates poster, did have a PSM logo besides the contesting logo PKR. Therefore there does not arise an issue that the people were fooled. Local media continue to give coverage to PSM leaders as PSM leaders and not PKR during the elections.
4. A meeting was called to discuss the appointment of Councillor and Dr. Nasir attended but no other ADUN were present. Dr. Nasir then submitted the names of councillors and left. Later when he made inquiry on this, he was told by Ronnie Liew to ask Sivarasa and implied that it was Siva's doing that PSM did not get an reappointment on the MBPJ. Upon checking with Sivarasa, Siva complained about one PSM Councillor - Pannerselvam as underperforming. No concrete evidence was given and it was clear that he had wanted to replace this with his own party members using the NGO quota.
5. PSM then wrote a letter to the Menteri Besar as well as PKR Chief - Wan Azizah and Sdr. Anwar Ibrahim in which we asked for evidence and gave the assurance that if our member under perform, we will replace with another name
6. Later the MBPJ appointment was cancelled and we were given assurance by Ronnie to give another name to replace Pannerselvam. PSM furnished the second name and our nominated person were even told by the Deputy Datuk Bandar that he has been selected. Then some other hidden hand intervened and again our representative was dropped. We were told by very reliable PR sources that it was the meddling doneby one componenet party of the PR and it did upset the other members.
7. Dr. Nasir then met the MB who was very apologetic and sorry. He said that he will rectify this and we believe in his sincerity in resolving the issue.
8. PSM is therefore not happy that what is agreed upon is not kept. This is dirty politics. Because this action by the PKR and PR will sour the relationship. This is something which the PSM is trying to avoid as we see the BN as the enemy we need to focus and fight. The current action on the councillor will dent the trust already built.
9. On the question if PSM will join Pakatan or not, PSM National Congress has said that PSM will work closely with PR and will work on electoral pact with Pakatan to topple the BN. PSM reps is Parliament and State Assembly remain a PR friendly party unlike some DAP and PKR members who have resorted to jump ship and declare themselves BN friendly members.
10. We now leave the matter to the Selangor MB who has given personal assurance that he will resolve the issue and that PSM will get back its third councillor.
S. Arutchelvan
Secretary General
