After years of waiting, and disagreements, PSM has decided to give up on joining Pakatan Rakyat.

However, the socialist party is willing to work with Pakatan to take down the ruling Barisan Nasional government.

"PSM is willing to hold an electoral pact with Pakatan Rakyat to topple BN in GE14," PSM said in a statement issued yesterday.

The decision, made at a special internal national assembly on Nov 2, reverses an earlier decision made during its 2012 congress to join the opposition pact.

This comes a week after PSM announced it will be forming a new 'leftist' coalition together with Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM).

The new 'Gabungan Kiri' coalition aims to be a third force in Malaysian politics, and is looking to pull in other social activists and groups in East Malaysia.

Seat tussle is one reason

In its statement PSM cited Pakatan parties' decisions to contest in three-corner fights with PSM in Kota Damansara, Semenyih and Jelapang as one of the reasons why it won't be joining Pakatan.

PSM leader Mohd Nasir Hashim, lost his Kota Damansara state seat as a result of the three-way, and the party did not fare better in Semenyih and Jelapang.

Only Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar ( right ) managed to hold on to his seat.

PSM also said Pakatan had not responded to the party's request to join the pact, despite having supported its Buku Jingga manifesto.

"Till this day, there has been no answer from Pakatan.

"The last information received from Pakatan was on Aug 1, 2013, when it said PSM's application was still being considered," the statement said.

Other decisions reached during the Nov 2 PSM assembly, include refusal to contest under any logo but its own in the next election.

It will also field more candidates, including activists endorsed by the party, and is eyeing both parliamentary and state seats in five states.

PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan said previously that certain quarters want prominent activists like former Bar Council chairperson Ambiga Sreenavesan and human rights lawyer Haris Ibrahim to contest for elections.

Meanwhile, in a brief response, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim said Pakatan will discuss PSM's latest resolution.

"I need to get consensus in Pakatan, and then we will respond.

"They (PSM) are still very close, very close to most of our programmes," he told reporters in Parliament.

Additional reporting by Kow Gah Chie