PSM wants 'mutual respect'

The love-hate relationship between Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) and the opposition coalition looks likely to continue, at least for the time being.

This was after delegates at PSM's 15th national congress in Cameron Highlands endorsed a resolution for it to continue having dialogue with Pakatan on its relationship with the loose opposition coalition.

In his opening address at the congress on Friday, PSM president Dr Nasir Hashim admitted that their relationship with Pakatan was in shambles during the general election on May 5.

When contacted yesterday, party secretary-general S. Arutchelvan said the party was ready for future dialogue but this had to be based on mutual respect.

He said this was the consensus reached by the 300 delegates on the resolution on Saturday night. "PSM has not closed its doors on future dialogue with the Pakatan leadership. The ball now is in their court."

Arutchelvan also said the party was waiting for opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's next move following his recent statement that PSM was welcome to join Pakatan on condition that the party endorsed the opposition pact's common policy platform.

However, Anwar's statement contradicted that of PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution who had earlier stated that Pakatan would not be accepting PSM.

Arutchelvan, who retained his party post unopposed at the party's congress, said PSM would only decide on its next course of action after the dialogue had taken place.

He said that his party's dialogue with Pas on June 18 had yielded "quite positive results".

On another matter, Arutchelvan said the party's delegates had also endorsed a resolution calling for PSM to use its own emblem in the next general election.

PSM had sought to use its white fist emblem in the May general election, but did not get the consent from Pakatan's leadership, resulting in its candidates contesting under the PKR banner.