Sivaranjani Manickam elected PSM sec-gen

PSM workers’ bureau coordinator Sivaranjani Manickam has been elected party secretary-general at its 26th national congress today.

This comes after A Sivarajan stepped down as secretary-general after holding the post for nine years.

"She has been a unionist and workers’ rights activist for 22 years and previously headed PSM’s workers bureau," said the party in a statement.

Sivaranjani (above) contested the Meru state seat in last year's Selangor state assembly polls but lost to Pakatan Harapan's Mariam Abdul Rashid.

As for other posts, PSM said there were no changes in key positions.

The new central committee team for the 2024-2026 term is as follows:

• Chairperson: Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj

• Deputy chairperson: S Arutchelvan

• Secretary-general: Sivaranjani Manickam

• Deputy secretary general: Bawani KS

• Treasurer: Soh Sook Hwa

• Asst treasurer: S Madhavi

Central committee members

• K Arveent

• Chong Yee Shan

• Choo Chon Kai

• G Gandipan

• M Karthiges

• Nik Aziz Afiq

• E Parames

• A Sivarajan

• Suresh Kumar

The congress was held in Johor Baru, which was the first in the party's history.

"This congress is themed ‘People's Alternative Third Force’.

"It embodies sentiments of the working people, the ‘marhaen’ who are increasingly disappointed with the reform agenda that has failed to be implemented.

"The reformist government is increasingly distant from the demands and wishes of the people.

"They are more interested in rubbing shoulders with the corporate elite and foreign investors, prioritising the business agenda," said PSM.

Tackle class divide

It claimed that the reformist government subscribed to the trickle-down economics policy – which rides on the notion that if capitalists and foreign investors were protected, then the economic development created by them would trickle down to the common people.

"Such a perspective has only widened the gap between the rich and poor.

"This frustration is addressed by PSM by bringing the people together regardless of race and religion, fighting for the rights of the marginalised class collectively.

“Only by addressing the class divide among the people can we eradicate racial politics,” PSM stated.

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