Relaxing membership requirements will top the agenda at the ninth national congress of the yet-to-be-registered Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) in Port Dickson tomorrow.

Pro tem secretary general S Arutchelvan said the matter was timely as it is believed that PSM has one of the most strictest membership policies in the world.

"Presently, we have a strict weekly meeting attendance policy and members must attend ideological classes. We're trying to relax that a bit," Arutchelvan told malaysiakini .

At the last party congress in Penang, members tried to devise ways of increasing party membership without sacrificing its membership requirements.

The fledgling party is also expected to discuss general election preparations.

"Socialists have won elections before, but a lot of people have forgotten that. We have to at least win one seat," added Arutchelvan.

Observer participation

Tomorrow, PSM pro tem president Dr Nasir Hashim will deliver his policy speech while election for office bearers will be on Sunday.

The closed-door meeting will be held over three days. It is expected to draw a record 100 delegates representing branches and front organisations from five states - Perak, Selangor, Johor and Penang.

The party has invited about a dozen observers for the event who will be given the opportunity to participate in the debates.

PSM, whose members consist mainly of estate and industrial workers, is the first party to take the Home Affairs Ministry to court after having tried for nine years since 1998 to be registered as a political party.

On Apr 23, PSM was granted leave by the Federal Court to appeal against the rejection of its application to be formally registered by the Registrar of Societies.