YOURSAY | ‘PSM cannot have the best of both worlds, especially not at this present moment.’

Underdog or not, PSM will defend Sg Siput

Nature Lover: Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, I have great admiration for the hard work you and your party members have done over the past decades or so.

My friends and I supported you in your great battles against one of BN's giants, then-MIC president S Samy Vellu, and you finally succeeded in 2008.

Over the 10 years, you have performed very well as one of the few MPs who engaged in intelligent debates in the Parliament, and at the same time help defend and service the needy in your constituency.

We really appreciate the good work you have done. You are an exemplary MP for others in the Parliament to emulate.

Unfortunately, the analysis put forth by the PSM leadership on the current social contradictions facing Malaysia is flawed. This has resulted in your current untenable situation.

Any socialist worth his salt would have concluded that the main contradiction facing the country is caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and his BN regime.

The country is given this once in a lifetime opportunity to knock out BN.

If we miss this chance, Pakatan Harapan or PSM or whatever opposition parties will be put in cold storage for a long, long time. In these circumstances, this is the time to unite as broad a front as possible to bring down BN.

My humble suggestion to PSM is to approach Harapan leadership with the following proposal: allow Jeyakumar to contest under PKR logo in Sungai Siput in exchange for the promise not to put up any PSM candidate for any other parliament or state constituency.

PSM is just wasting precious resources contesting in seats which it has no possibility of winning. There are indeed better ways to gain publicity for the party.

Wong Fei Hoong: Jeyakumar, this is not the time to show your ego. Every seat is important, and I think you are also hopeful that BN will fall.

Talk to Harapan, and I believe that they will accommodate you to stand in Sungai Siput provided that PSM will not put up candidates in other areas. There is nothing wrong with standing under the PKR logo, as even DAP is doing it.

Harapan, please give due consideration if Jeyakumar agrees to do so. Nobody gains if the seat is won by BN.

Anonymous 459: Harapan has become arrogant and seems to court its new mistress Bersatu better than it treats its old partners. Jeyakumar is right, in this way, even Harapan won’t be able to win the seat.

Much arrogance had gotten into the head of Harapan’s leaders. If this sort of attitude continues, it will be a poison pill for Harapan in years to come.

To the ill-informed, please visit Sungai Siput where you will see for yourself Jeyakumar's hard work for the poor communities.

Harapan is worried about the influence of PSM, who have selfless and devoted workers, unlike their party workers who look forward to the double income of being an incumbent and pensioner. 

PSM 's direct influence on the poor in urban marginal seats such as Semenyih, Kota Damansara and Buntong is increasing by the day, as the poor are not bullied by the sheer twisted ideology of the marriage with the old emperor, Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Many want PSM’s ideology snuffed out before it spreads to other areas.

Ipoh PP: No one is disputing the fact of Jeyakumar’s great help to the poor and his being a hardworking MP. However, the 'fight' now is for the opposition to unite for this once in a lifetime chance of bringing down BN.

Harapan has not denied you standing in Sungai Siput and have accepted the reality in the constituency. However, you and your comrades are just stubborn and intentionally wish to split the votes in other constituencies where you want to stand.

My appeal is this: please stand down in all other areas and I am sure Harapan will help you out in Sungai Siput.

Quigonbond: PSM clearly has decided that it is now or never for them to expand. The underlying assumption is the opposition is going to take power.

I don't think anyone can begrudge them to want to strengthen their position, though it is patently clear to Malaysians that to effect regime change, there is really one frontrunner to vote for.

And so, it now falls on the voters at places PSM is contesting to decide. If I am Harapan, I would appeal to voters to support Jeyakumar, but to reject the rest of PSM candidates.

Then let it not be said that Jeyakumar's giant-slaying efforts of the past is forgotten.

Apollos: Jeyakumar, you may be a good person who provides free medical services to the poor, but I am voting for a lawmaker, not a saint.

My boss once told me, "If I want to hire a hard-working employee, I might just hire a cow. You are here to give direction to the company."

A one-MP party can do nought for the country.

Southpaw: You are placing candidates in 16 other parliamentary and assembly seats, so you are hardly a victim of the circumstances.

Any party can contest in any seat in the election, so stop sulking.

Slowly, Slowly Catch The Monkeys: PSM, goodwill and accommodation is the name of the game. Look at DAP as a pointer.

For the sake of the nation, they are sacrificing using their logo and together with other coalition partners, they will battle the BN kleptocrats in the spirit of oneness.

PSM cannot have the best of both worlds, especially not at this present moment.

Bright Light: Assess the situation and don’t fight if there is no chance of winning. The big bully as you claim is your enemy's enemy, so he is your friend now.

Two elephants fighting and you want to join in for fun or ego and let the greater enemy win? It is not just suicidal but a lose-lose situation for everyone else except BN.

Mafeeah: I have been with Jeyakumar all the while. But now I change my mind, noting that PSM is only interested in being spoilers in other areas.

They are only good for Sungai Siput and nowhere else. So if PSM refuses to stand down in other areas, then Harapan has no choice but to contest Sungai Siput.

Jeyakumar, thanks for showing us that the clenched fist symbolises stubbornness.

Retnam: At this rate, Sungai Siput and Cameron Highlands will be handed over to MIC on a silver platter.

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.

These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.