Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) is adamant that it will contest in the Jelapang state legislative assembly seat in Perak, despite the fact that the seat is considered a stronghold of ally DAP.

Secretary-general S Arutchelvan said a multi-cornered contest for the seat is possible should negotiations break down.

“We are negotiating so there will not be a three-cornered fight, but we will stand in Jelapang,” said Arutchelvan during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said that PSM believes that it has the “best candidate” for the seat and DAP should make way.

“PSM has the best chance to win the Jelapang seat,” he said.

In November last year, PSM deputy chairperson M Saraswathy announced she would be contesting for the Jelapang seat for a second time.

Four-corner fight?

Saraswathy, a full time PSM activist, lost the contest in 2008 by a wide margin and failed to retain her deposit, garnering only 6.7 percent of the total vote.

She claimed that she had been consistently “servicing” the people of Jelapang despite losing the contest.         

The incumbent for the Jelapang seat is Hee Yit Foong. She is a three-term state assemblyperson and currently the state legislative assembly deputy speaker.

Hee, who is now a “BN-friendly” independent member of the assembly, after quitting from DAP after a falling out with its leaders.

It is understood that DAP will be fielding veteran party activist Frankie Wong in Jelapang, who moved in to replace Hee as the party’s representative in the area.

Thus far, Hee has yet to confirm if she would be defending her seat.

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