ADUN SPEAKS | I think it is unnecessary for DAP and PSM to squabble over who is going to contest the parliamentary seat of Sungai Siput, once the stronghold of BN.

Lately, there have been some sharp exchanges between the leaders of both parties as to who will be contesting in this seat.

DAP's Sungkai assemblyperson A Sivanesan came out with a statement saying that he might be contesting the seat even though he is considered an underdog.

PSM leader D Michael Jeyakumar has been contesting the parliamentary seat from 1999 onwards.

He lost in the general elections in 1999 and 2004 but won the seat under the PKR ticket in 2008 and 2013. However, PSM has made it known that in the coming general election, it would be contesting the seat under party's logo and not PKR banner.

DAP has always claimed the seat, but through compromise with PKR, gave it up for Jeyakumar (photo) to contest.

Sadly, the good relations between DAP and PSM that were present before in the 2008 and 2013 general elections are absent.

This could be the reason why PSM has not been accepted into the fold of Pakatan Harapan, although I am not sure whether the party has made any formal application...