Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) would not contest any seats in Johor in the upcoming general election, reportedly to avoid three-cornered fights with the BN and Pakatan Rakyat.

azlan PRM national deputy president SK Song said that this is to improve the opposition coalition’s chances of winning the election, according to today's edition of Malay daily Sinar Harian .

“PRM’s central leadership has entrusted its state headquarters  to make a decision, and that we will abide by it...

“We believe that Pakatan Rakyat has a good chance of winning this general election. If they win, that would be the end of racial politics,” Song was quoted as saying.

Despite that, he reportedly said that the party would not bar any of its members - 1,500 of whom are registered in Johor - from contesting as independents.

At least one member has already expressed interest in doing so.

However, the party has not won any seats in recent polls.

parti rakyat malaysia prm Song, who is also the PRM Johor chief, added that the decision lies with each of PRM’s state-level leaders, and the party’s national vice-president Koh Swe Yong may contest in the Selayang parliamentary seat.

Koh had contested in Selayang in 2008, garnering 1,332 of the 59,167 votes, or 2.25 percent.

The socialist party had previously contested in the Johor Baru parliamentary seat and in the Johor state assembly seats of Johor Jaya, Stulang, Tanjung Puteri and Gelang Patah.

Related stories

Jui Meng now eyeing DAP's Bakri and Kulai seats

Umno man implicated in fraudulent voter registration

Please don't make us 'eat egg', S'gor MCA tells voters

Harian Metro rejects Penang gov't adverts

Singapore bus firms offer discount to GE13 voters

Anwar unlikely to contest in Perak, says state PKR

In Permatang Pauh, Umno to field winnable candidate

DAP's UbahTV wants Najib as first guest

Husni: Opposition's manifesto will up deficit to 11.5pct

Google launches site on Malaysian polls

PM still holding meetings with state BN leaders

Prime minister launches 'Jom Bertindak' voting guide

Pakatan offers lifeline to bus operators ahead of GE

EC refutes claim M'sians abroad won't get to vote

Najib is campaigning on fear, not on hope