Parti Socialis Malaysia (PSM) said today it does not rule out contesting against PKR's Anwar Ibrahim for the Kajang state assembly seat "to teach PKR a lesson".

According to The Star Online, PSM's secretary-general S Arutchelvan stated that many have urged the party to fill the seat left vacant after PKR's Lee Chin Cheh yesterday tendered his resignation following a meeting with Anwar.

Today, PKR de facto leader Anwar said that he would indeed contest the seat if a by-election is called for and urged BN not to contest.

However, the opposition leader was probably not expecting any contest to come from opposition-friendly PSM.

"In the last 24 hours, we have got lots of calls from people, especially young voters and NGOs asking us to stand in the Kajang by-election to teach PKR a lesson.

"PSM will check feedback and decide with our members. At this moment we are not ruling out anything," Arutchelvan told The Star Online.

Ties soured between PSM and its Pakatan Rakyat allies, which initially found common ground fighting for justice and government abuse of power, shortly after the 13th general elections in May last year.

This came as despite an agreement being reached for PSM national president Nasir Hashim (right) in Kota Damansara to contest under a PKR banner, PAS decided to nominate a candidate of its own.

Both candidates lost out to BN with split votes being blamed for the result.

Meanwhile in Semenyih and Jelapang, PSM decided to put up candidates using its own logo, despite Pakatan fielding their own candidates.

PSM's Arutchelvan contested in Semenyih in the 2008 elections and narrowly lost.