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PSM won't back down on 'lies of MPs'
Published:  Sep 28, 2015 8:00 AM
Updated: 12:29 AM

Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) is refusing to back down on claims that it was not invited to a meeting to form the new opposition coalition because it is against Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, which safeguards the special position of Malays.

Former secretary-general S Arutchelvan said there are differing accounts of what had transpired at the meeting to form Pakatan Harapan last week, and there is still no indication which one is true.

“If you make a mistake, own up to it and we will accept it. But to make a mistake and then refuse to admit to it and continue to manipulate the issue, this indicates that they are not to be trusted.

“Some say it is small thing which can be solved. Then how did it become so big? What is the meaning of ‘harapan’ (hope) and ‘amanah’ (trust) when you can’t even deliver truth and sincerity?” Arutchelvan asked in a Facebook posting.

He was referring to the name of the new opposition pact and one of its members, PAS splinter party Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah).

The spat sparked after Ong Kian Ming, the MP from DAP and Abdul Khalid Samad ( photo ), the MP from Amanah, announced that PSM was not part of the talks to form new opposition pact Pakatan Harapan as it did not agree with the common policy framework formed under the earlier Pakatan Rakyat.

It was also claimed that PSM had earlier opted out of Pakatan Rakyat as it did not agree with Article 153, but both claims were refuted by PSM.

They were asked why PSM, which has one MP, was not invited to the talks to form the new opposition pact.

However, Ong and Khalid said this was their understanding from the meeting to form Pakatan Harapan that was chaired by Opposition Leader and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

However, PKR vice-president Tian Chua later issued an apology on the matter and said PSM was a valuable ally to the defunct Pakatan Rakyat.

However, Chua said Wan Azizah never accused PSM of disagreeing with the common policy framework or Article 153.

Asked about this yesterday, Wan Azizah sidestepped the question and merely said all opposition parties are welcome to join the pact, including PAS, which has repeatedly snubbed Wan Azizah’s invite.

Pakatan Harapan was formed after Pakatan Rakyat disintegrated, following a feud between DAP and PAS over the implementation of the hudud.

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