The government's crackdown on 30 Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) activists has proved to be a blessing in disguise, as it has forged closer relationships between the party and those in Pakatan Rakyat.

NONE Penang DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy) chief Yeoh Soon Hin said the wing wants to work closely with PSM “from now on to abolish laws that allow detention without trial”.

"Public awareness is very important. Our ultimate goal is to repeal outdated and draconian laws,” he told a joint press conference with PSM central committee member Choo Chon Kai (in red T-shirt) today.

Yeoh, the Paya Terubong assemblyperson, also said Dapsy will organise a state-wide signature campaign to urge the attorney-general (AG) to drop the charges against the PSM activists.

They had been arrested in June, two weeks before the Bersih 2.0 rally for electoral reforms in Kuala Lumpur on July 9.

parliament pc jeyakumar and mustapha 171208 01 Six of them, including Choo and Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael D Jeyakumar (left) , had been detained for 28 days under the Emergency Ordinance (EO) before being released.

All 30 have since been charged with possessing "subversive documents" and will have to attend a hearing from Oct 10-14 at the Butterworth Court.

Yeoh said he had earlier promised Choo's mother that he would press for her son’s release.

"Unexpectedly, they were all released the next day," he quipped.

"Although they are all free now, they continue to face charges, and since the struggle is not over yet, Dapsy intends to (carry out a) signature campaign to ask for the charges to be dropped.”

The wing further plans to organise a forum on the EO, while PSM continues to hold a series of road shows, forums and appreciation dinners nationwide.

Failed tactic

Choo, the former Penang branch Suaram coordinator, lives in the Paya Terubong constituency but is a voter in Air Itam, a state seat held by state exco Wong Hon Wai.

NONE Although PSM is not a component of the opposition coalition, Choo said it takes a pro-Pakatan stance in its activities.

Jeyakumar, a doctor by profession, had after all won his parliamentary seat on a DAP ticket, he noted.

Choo pledged that PSM would continue to work closely with Pakatan to "end the BN’s political hegemony".

He reminded the AG that if the charges against the activists are not lifted, many will reveal the extent of police "abuse and lies" during their trial.

He reiterated that the arrests under the EO were "illegal", as no valid reason had been given for the detention of the activists.

"The authorities merely wanted to intimidate the people (and prevent them) from participating in the Bersih 2.0 rally. Fortunately, the people do not feel threatened by such ‘white terror’ any more," he said with a smile.