PETALING JAYA: Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) is unhappy over PKR’s decision to remove the former’s sole councillor, V. Paneerselvam, from the Petaling Jaya City Council.
PSM grassroots are retaliating by insisting that the party field its candidate to contest the Subang parliamentary seat, which is now held by PKR’s R. Sivarasa, in the next general election if Pakatan continues to neglect the party, sources said.
PSM chairman and Kota Damansara assemblyman Dr Nasir Hashim said Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had promised to resolve the matter but the party had not heard from him since.
“We had postponed our central committee meeting last month, as the Mentri Besar had publicly stated that he wanted to meet up with us.
“I have sent him an SMS saying that we are open to a discussion but until today, the Mentri Besar has yet to fix a date to meet us. We will certainly discuss the matter at our next central committee meeting,” he said.
Dr Nasir described the decision to remove Paneerselvam as a sore point as the decision was made without consulting the party.
“It is certainly a betrayal of trust,” he said in an interview.
Paneerselvam said the party would not tolerate PKR’s political “manipulation.”
“How can they do this to an ally? They cannot just take away the council seat without consulting the parties concerned.
“There should be mutual respect, consultation and transparency when such major decisions are made,” he said.
Paneerselvam, who is also a PSM central committee member, said PKR should not let Sivarasa ruin the cordial ties between allies.
Paneerselvam said many members felt strongly that PKR leaders like Sivarasa should stop “bullying PSM and treat the party as an equal”.
[PSM has responded to this news article: PSM will stay focused on issues confronting the rakyat]
