Malaysia: Socialist Party registered after 10-year battle

Kuala Lumpur, 10 September 2008: This morning, Parti Sosialis Malaysia's National Chairperson Dr. Nasir Hashim officially announced PSM's registration and proudly held a certificate from the Registrar of Society dated 19 August 2008. The certificate is given to Parti Sosialis Malaysia (New) giving an impression that it is a new party, which is being registered when the whole world knows about the discrimination and unconstitutional attitude of the ruling party in denying PSM a registration for the last ten years.
Also present along with Party leaders were, Mohd. Sabu, the Vice
President of PAS, and two of PSM lawyers, Counsel Tommy Thomas and Ragu Kesavan. Besides that around 200 people attended and witnessed the historical press conference. Among them were grassroots community leaders, NGO and political activist and the media.

Dr. Nasir thanked the many people, the lawyers who did the case for free, the founding members and many others who stood the ground with the party in the last ten years. Many friends locally as well as Internationally campaigned for PSM to be registered.
He said that we never let the registration hamper our spirit but now with the registration, we will move on.
PSM Secretary General, S.Arutchelvan listed the party's achievement and said that PSM is an extension of the great and gallant struggle of the left over the years from the Socialist Front to the Peoples party to the MCP. He said that PSM would continue to be relevant as long as exploitation exist.
Mohd. Sabu who Arul introduced as the socialist in PAS said that he hoped that PSM joins the Pakatan Rakyat but said that if Pakatan merely replaces Barisan Nasional and and adopts pro-capitalist policies and not bring about change, then it is better for PSM to fight PR. Tommy Thomas, PSM's lead counsel said that the courts have disappointed us but it is peoples verdict on 8 march which allowed BN to make some reforms including giving PSM a registration.
The Internationale was then sung to end the program but yet to begin a new chapter in the socialist struggle in Malaysia.

Q & A:

During the press conference, the media asked the following questions and answers given by Comrade Nasir Hashim and S.Arutchelvan.
On Pakatan Rakyat:
PSM said that the party would continue to work with Pakatan Rakyat on a minimum program. PSM endorses the PAKATAN call to end the NEP to a policy which will benefit all irrespective of race, abolish the ISA and supports the many pro people and workers initiative like the Minimum wage act etc. On the other hand, the party would oppose any pro-capitalist, neo-liberal and any racist policies.
If the party is invited to PAKATAN, then we would look at the PAKATAN's program and decide in the party's Congress to join or decline.
On PSM's MPs and State Assemblyman
PSM stood in the 1999 election using the DAP logo and in year 2004 and 2008 election, the party used the PKR logo. The understanding is clear that PSM is using these logos because its own registration is denied. PSM used its own manifesto and propaganda materials during the elections. There is mutual respect among the parties.
PSM would be writing to the Speakers at the Parliament as well as the Selangor State Assembly asking them, that in wake of the party's registration, our two MPs and ADUN must be referred as members of PSM.
Meanwhile we will also ask the speakers not to change their current sitting position, as we are comfortable in opposing Barisan Nasional and its Government.
On Anwar's September 16:
The entire election system is farce. BN has previously used undemocratic means to undermine democracy in Sabah and Kelantan. Today they are seeking justice when similar possible crossover is taking place against them.
PSM has no knowledge nor is it part of this initiative. If the people are against the crossover they will go to the streets. Currently it seems that the people and the civil society is reluctant to come to UMNO and BN's rescue because the Government themselves are corrupt and not popular. If BN is a popular party, we are sure the masses will come and protest any form of take-over, which is seen as undemocratic. Let us wait and see.
On PSM's immediate plans:
We would be holding a victory celebration on the 17 October and plan to go on a nationwide road show to promote the party. The party also plans two big campaigns. One is on the current fuel, food and economic crisis while the second campaign would focus on the local council elections. Until local election was banned 40 years ago, the left and Socialist were the main parties winning elections at the council level.
Would [PSM MP] Dr. Kumar support PAKATAN in Parliament?
As a block, we stand with the opposition in opposing the BN. But if there are policies or laws, which goes against the interest of workers at large and goes against socialist principles, we will oppose it. PSM's MP and State Assemblyman would not follow any Pakatan decision blindly.
How about PAKATAN policies, which goes against PSM interest?
We would work and look for common grounds to advance the struggle. Meanwhile we will not abandon basic socialistic principles, which the party holds.
On PSM current membership:
Technically we cannot have members. Currently we have party office in seven states, we have state representatives in all states except Sarawak and Terengganu. Our support base on people committees is around 10,000.
Source: PSM

Report in Malaysiakini:

Sep 10, 08 4:15pm
PSM, which is now an officially recognised political party, will
continue to cooperate with the opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat on a 'minimal programme' basis.
On the same note, it's secretary-general S Arutchelvan had reporters and party members in stitches when he declared: "We will never join BN (Barisan Nasional), we can guarantee you that."
He said if PSM is invited to join Pakatan Rakyat, the matter will have to be discussed by its congress before any decision can be made.
Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, he also stressed that the socialist party, which claims to have some 10,000 members, will remain as opposition.
After a decade long struggle to obtain official recognition as a
legitimate outfit, PSM received the green light from the Registrar of Societies (ROS) in a letter dated Aug 19.
Given PSM's new status, one question expected to be addressed is the status of its elected representatives: Kota Damansara state
assemblyperson Dr Mohd Nasir Hashim and Sungai Siput member of
parliament Dr Michael D Jeyakumar.
'Continue to fight for justice'
Commenting on this, Arutchelvan said both the representatives will remain independent in their views and continue to raise issues that are inline with the party's beliefs in their respective avenues.
"They will continue to fight for justice and for the people, a belief that defines PSM. Just because we contested under the PKR flag does not mean we have to carry their views," he said.
"We already sent letters to the Speakers from both the Parliament and the state assembly to have their party's name changed to PSM now that we have the official status," he added.
In the March 8 polls, both Jeyakumar and Nasir had to stand under the PKR flag as election laws state that only parties recognised by the ROS can contest.
The change of name will not affect the opposition numbers in Parliament and the Selangor state assembly since PSM made it clear that it would remain as opposition.
Currently the opposition, comprising PKR, DAP, PAS and PSM, have 81 seats as opposed to BN's 140 in Parliament. In the state assembly, the opposition controls 36 state seats while BN has 20.
Differences in opinion During PSM's recent congress in Port Dickson, one of the resolutions proposed by members was not to join the Pakatan coalition due to ideological differences.
Speaking on this, Arutchelvan said PSM and other Pakatan parties have always had differences in opinion on economic matters, in particular the issue of free trade.
PSM has always been against the free trade market ideology advocated by certain quarters within the ranks of other Pakatan parties.
"We believe that the free market ideology is here to crush and enslave workers. We have different perspectives (from other Pakatan parties) on policies of economics," said Arutchelvan.
However, he also noted that PSM recognises the existence of certain 'progressive elements' that share similar views with the socialist party in other Pakatan parties and will continue to cooperate with these elements.
Meanwhile, Nasir, who was also present at the press conference, said cooperation based on these similar ideas will constitute what the party calls "minimal programmes."
Labelled as 'the socialist in PAS' by PSM members, PAS vice-president Mohamad Sabu who was also present backed Nasir's view.
"Yes, we have small differences but the similarities between both the parties are bigger and we should focus on the bigger similarities instead of the smaller differences," he said.
Both Nasir and Arutchelvan said PSM will now intensify its efforts to expand its membership and register the current ones.
"Before we were registered, we cannot say that our supporters were members as the law states that only registered parties can have members.
"This will change now and we will work towards registering our supporters and expanding the membership as well," said Arutchelvan
Source: Malaysiakini: