In a scathing indictment, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) chairperson Dr Mohd Nasir Hashim said the cooperation between Pakatan Harapan leaders and Dr Mahathir Mohamad is testament to the dearth of quality leadership in the opposition coalition.

Nasir blasted these leaders for relying on the person whom he accused of undermining the nation's institutions in the first place, to lead the Citizens' Declaration movement.

"Several writings and forums have condemned this (cooperation), and exposed a lack of capable leaders among the opposition ranks.

"They had to rely on Mahathir – a man who does not know remorse. Mahathir held the post of prime minister for 22 years, and emasculated the government institutions.

"His administration turned all kinds of problems - oppression, graft, and arrogance - into a norm to this day," he added in his policy speech at the PSM national congress in Shah Alam.

Nasir pointed out that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was merely continuing Mahathir’s legacy.

Nevertheless, Nasir expressed hope that Harapan can resolve the problems afflicting the country, even as he pointed out that the coalition’s track record remained unproven.

Harapan was formed on Sept 22 last year, following the collapse of the Pakatan Rakyat opposition bloc due to a fallout between PAS and DAP over the hudud issue.

'Harapan's capabilities are not clear'

“It’s capabilities are still not clear,” Nasir said of the new coalition, “Perhaps because it is young, but also because its approach in terms of tactics and strategy is still not organised to untie the links between economic repression and socio-cultural problems.

“More confusingly, Pakatan Harapan in Selangor sides with PAS, while Pakatan Harapan in Penang sides with Amanah,” he said.

Amanah is a PAS splinter party and is a member of the Harapan coalition. PAS is not a member of the coalition.

Nasir hopes Pakatan can stay the course of empowering the people, and not be consumed by the hunger for power.

Speaking to reporters later, Nasir said PSM would work with Pakatan on common issues such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) and the goods and services tax (GST).

However, he said PSM would not join the coalition, but pointed out that the coalition is unlikely to accept PSM into its fold in the first place because the party ‘has a different style’.

“We are not after positions (of power), so we can speak our minds. If you are after positions, you would have to filter a bit.

“Then you lose something – some principles are lost along the way,” he said.

Asked what role PSM would play in the coming twin by-elections in Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar, Nasir said the party is in a dilemma over the matter and the matter is still being discussed.

“We want to avoid three-cornered fight, if we can. We are still discussing what can we do. What we want is a one-to-one fight, but that is not happening.

“So where do we stand? We still have to make a decision. Do we move, or ask our friends to go and help as individuals, or do we make a stand? That’s all we can do so far,” Nasir said.

Nomination day for the two by-elections falls is this Sunday, while voting will take place is on June 18.