PSM is unfazed by DAP's threats to field a candidate for Sungai Siput, the sole parliamentary seat held by the socialist party.

Central committee member S Arutchelvan said DAP had contested in Sungai Siput against PSM and BN candidates in 2004 and came out last.

At the time, DAP's PP Sanmugam obtained just 9.4 percent of the votes, only narrowly keeping his deposit.

"When DAP took on PSM in 2004, it only resulted in a BN victory. Therefore DAP contesting in Sungai Siput will directly help BN," Arutchelvan said in a statement today.

Arutchelvan said this in response to Perak DAP's announcement that it will field a candidate for Sungai Siput as a tit-for-tat for PSM's decision to contest seats currently held by Pakatan Harapan.

Sungai Siput has long been the stomping ground for PSM's Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, who has been fielded by PSM four times since 1999.

In 1999, Jeyakumar contested on a DAP ticket, and in the subsequent three general elections, on a PKR ticket.

In 2008, Jeyakumar eventually denied then MIC president S Samy Vellu a ninth term as Sungai Siput MP.

On Perak DAP's argument that its candidate would allow Sungai Siput voters a choice between BN and Harapan, Arutchelvan argued that the events of 2004 showed that this would likely favour the ruling party.

In view of this, DAP and Harapan should focus their fight against BN in other areas as PSM was only fielding candidates for three percent of parliamentary seats in the country.

"PSM's role is to highlight many issues faced by the common folk and grassroots, which are neglected by the bigger parties.

"In any coalition, it is the role of the big party to build the coalition. It is clear that Harapan is not interested in working with PSM, although we have always been open to a pact," Arutchelvan said.