Rafizi says Sungai Siput was won under PKR since GE12

PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli says the decision to not enter an electoral pact with PSM on the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat is because the seat was technically won under PKR’s banner in the last three elections.

“It’s not about giving a chance, it's about which party has the best chance, in terms of machinery, traction and track record on the ground that can win the seat.

“After all, I think the result speaks for itself in the last GE when PSM entered the fray as just PSM. And I take my hat off to Dr Michael (Jeyakumar Devaraj, above). No one disputes him as a social worker.

“But when PSM entered an election on its own, they lost the deposit,” he told reporters during a press conference at PKR’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.

Rafizi referred to the 2018 general election (GE14) when PSM fielded its chairperson Jeyakumar in Sungai Siput, but lost the deposit in a fight with three other parties - PKR, MIC, and PAS.

PKR’s Kesavan Subramaniam won the parliamentary seat with 20,817 votes.

Rafizi acknowledged that the party’s hardcore supporters would be upset over the decision, though he believes that because they are mainly from urban areas, it would not impact Sungai Siput electorally.

In the same press conference, it was announced that PKR would be fielding Malay language activist Hasni Abas in Sembrong, going against Umno’s heavyweight Hishammuddin Hussein who has been the MP there since 2004.

Hasni, 60, has been involved in various activist works for more than 30 years and was also a senior officer at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP).

“I have always advocated for fair wages, labour, and employment issues and I will look into the issues that Felda workers are facing.

“I also want to help the children of these workers and give them great opportunities, similarly to children who live in the city,” Hasni said.

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