PSM: ON COUNCILOR - LET'S PUT THE RECORD RIGHT

ON COUNCILOR - LET'S PUT THE RECORD RIGHT

1. PSM has always advocated for local Government election. We have also started a leaflet campaign on this last year. PSM Councillors took an undertaking that they will resign when there is a call to do so and when the campaign intensifies. Meanwhile PSM agreed to participate in the Councils in Selangor and Perak to help the newly formed PR Government.

2. PSM was offered 3 council seats - 2 in Kota Damansara (one MBPJ and MBSA) and this was the assurance from the MB in 2008. Meanwhile another council seat was given in MPKJ where PSM stood in the Semenyih state seat in 2008.

3. In the last election 2008 - PSM stood under PKR logo (in 1999 - stood under DAP logo) because PSM was not given a registration. Our agreement with DAP and PKR leaders were clear that we are borrowing their logo to stand in elections and once the party is registered, we will use back our own logo. In all those elections, PSM used its own manifesto, flew the PSM flag besides the PKR flag and all our candidates poster, did have a PSM logo besides the contesting logo PKR. Therefore there does not arise an issue that the people were fooled. Local media continue to give coverage to PSM leaders as PSM leaders and not PKR during the elections.

4.   A meeting was called to discuss the appointment of Councillor and Dr. Nasir attended  but no other ADUN were present. Dr. Nasir then submitted the names of councillors and left. Later when he made inquiry on this, he was told by Ronnie Liew to ask Sivarasa and implied that it was Siva's doing that PSM did not get an reappointment on the MBPJ. Upon checking with Sivarasa, Siva complained about one PSM Councillor - Pannerselvam as underperforming. No concrete evidence was given and it was clear that he had wanted to replace this with his own party members  using the NGO quota. 

5. PSM then wrote a letter to the Menteri Besar as well as PKR Chief - Wan Azizah and Sdr. Anwar Ibrahim in which we asked for evidence and gave the assurance that if our member under perform, we will replace with another name

6. Later the MBPJ appointment was cancelled and we were given assurance by Ronnie to give another name to replace Pannerselvam. PSM furnished the second name and our nominated person were even told by the Deputy Datuk Bandar that he has been selected. Then some other hidden hand intervened and again our representative was dropped. We were told by very reliable PR sources that it was the meddling done by one componenet party of the PR and it did upset the other members.

7. Dr. Nasir then met the MB who was very apologetic and sorry. He said that he will rectify this and we believe in his sincerity in resolving the issue.

8. PSM is therefore not happy that what is agreed upon is not kept. This is dirty politics. Because this action by the PKR and PR will sour the relationship. This is something which the PSM is trying to avoid as we see the BN as the enemy we need to focus and fight. The current action on the councillor will dent the trust already built.

9. On the question if PSM will join Pakatan or not, PSM National Congress has said that PSM will work closely with PR and will work on electoral pact with Pakatan to topple the BN.  PSM reps is Parliament and State Assembly remain a PR friendly party unlike some DAP and PKR members who have resorted to jump ship and declare themselves BN friendly members.

10. We now leave the matter to the Selangor MB who has given personal assurance that he will resolve the issue and that PSM will get back its third councillor.

S.Arutchelvan

Secretary General

PARTI SOSIALIS MALAYSIA -  PRESS STATEMENT.                                                           Date: 16^th July,2010.

Disappointed PSM Socialist Councillor dropped from MBPJ

Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) is unhappy that the appointment of councilors yesterday (15^th July,2010) at Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya(MBPJ) has dropped PSM’s representative in the council .

PSM has raised this issue with the Menteri Besar Selangor. Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim dan the Exco concerned, Ronnie Liu when it learnt that PSM reps missing from the MBPJ councillor list released last week.

Dr.Nasir Hashim, PSM Chairperson (Kota Damansara Assemblyman) communicated personally to both the Menteri Besar and Ronnie Liu regarding the matter.

Menteri Besar took note of the matter and promised to resolve it. Ronnie Liu too gave his word that PSM representative in MBPJ will not be removed.

But yesterday, PSM was very disappointed to learn that all 24 councilors in MBPJ have taken their oath already. This means clearly that, PSM has been dropped out and replaced with another councilor.

After March 2008, through discussion and agreement between PSM and the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat government, two councilors will be appointed to work with Kota Damansara Assemblyman Dr.Nasir Hashim. Kota Damansara falls under two city councils, Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam . Thus two councilors serving Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam and Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya were appointed since 2008 to serve MBPJ and MBSA respectively.

Since 2008, the councilor  services has enhanced the Pakatan Rakyat’s rule in Kota Damansara . PSM councilors were the only councilors to declare asset in public and who have been bringing a pro-people approach in the council.

Meanwhile PSM  State Assemblyman and MP have stood by PR and have not jumped ship or declared themselves independent in the Selangor State Assembly and Parliament unlike several PR representatives. It therefore came to us as a shock  the decision to drop our socialist councilor from MBPJ .

Thus, PSM protest this unilateral decision by the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat government as this is similar to bullying smaller partners which are supportive of the State government. The similar incident has also happened to NGO representation in councils. Many councils had their NGO replaced by political party reps.

We call the Menteri Besar to keep his word and rectify the matter as soon as possible .

 DR.MOHD. NASIR HASHIM , PSM Chairperson ( ADUN Kota Damansara)

PSM wants more party members in Selangor councils - NST

PETALING JAYA: Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) is calling Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to resolve the issue arising from the dropping of two-term Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) member V. Panneerselvam.

Party president Dr Mohd Nasir Hashim said he wanted a PSM councillor to be appointed in Panneerselvam's Kota Damansara zone as it was an area where PSM had ongoing community and grassroots mobilisation projects.

The Kota Damansara state assemblyman urged Khalid to respond to the matter as soon as possible as PSM has only two councillors in Selangor.

"With the exclusion of Panneerselvam, PSM representation in local councils diminishes to less than one per cent," he said, adding that Selangor had a total of 289 councillors.

He said this at the press conference yesterday, where Panneerselvam was also present.

Dr Mohd Nasir claimed that PSM was earlier promised three councillors, one each in the Kajang and Shah Alam municipalities, and Petaling Jaya by Khalid following a roundtable discussion after the 2008 elections.

He also said he would like Panneerselvam, who had served PSM Subang branch for 15 years, be re-appointed in Petaling Jaya as he was a "no- nonsense man".

"I don't know how that can be done as the councillors have already been sworn in, but I'm sure the Menteri Besar, as chief executive officer, can do something about it."

He said he was confident that Khalid would come to a fair decision.

Dr Mohd Nasir claimed that Khalid assured him that he would look into the matter.

"In late June, when the list was due out, I heard rumours that Panneerselvam's name would be dropped.

"When I checked with Selangor Local Government Study and Research committe chairman Ronnie Liu, I was told to talk to Subang member of parliament R. Sivarasa."

He claimed Sivarasa, who is also PKR vice-president, expressed that he wanted to replace Panneerselvam, and PKR wanted three PKR councillors in Kota Damansara.

"PSM is very disappointed," Dr Mohd Nasir said.

He said he had sent a letter and SMSes to Khalid, Liu and PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on the matter following his conversation with Sivarasa. -- By Veena Babulal ‘’

Disabled want more reps in councils

By STUART MICHAEL and FAZLEENA AZIZ
metro@thestar. com.my

THE INDEPENDENT Living and Training Centre is disappointed with the Selangor government for appointing only three disabled representatives out of the 288 councillors for the state.

According to its president, Francis Siva, only Anthony Thanasayan, Alan Tan and Mesari Jasman were appointed as councillors to serve at the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), Klang Municipal Council (MPK) and the Kuala Langat District Council (MDKL) respectively.

Francis said the disabled community threw their support behind Pakatan Rakyat in 2008 thinking their grouses would be addressed but sadly their plight remained very much the same.

“We appealed to them to appoint at least one disabled councillor for each of the 12 local governments but our call fell on deaf ears,” said Francis, adding that only a disabled person would know about the problems faced by the group.

“There are many issues affecting the disabled group which have yet to be resolved. This includes problems such as proper access to toilets, ramps and walkways.

“The councils have not made any significant changes. They (Pakatan Rakyat) are treating us more like a charity organisation instead of giving us an opportunity to have a say in the council,” said Francis.

Meanwhile, Kota Damansara assemblyman Dr Nasir Hashim expressed disappointment that the Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) representative had been dropped from the MBPJ line-up.

He said the issue had been brought up to Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and state chairman for local government Ronnie Liu.

Dr Nasir said Khalid took note of the matter and promised to resolve it while Liu gave his word that the PSM representative in MBPJ would not be removed.

“Similar incidents have also happened with the NGO representation in councils, where many local authorities had their NGO representatives replaced by political party members.

“We urge the Mentri Besar to keep his word and rectify the matter as soon as possible,” he said.

“We have given several names and if they are not happy with the nominees, they should have made it known to us,” he said.

Dr Nasir said he did not understand why PSM was overlooked this time around and hoped the state government would resolve the matter.

PSM upset over dropped councillor
Leven Woon | Jul 17, 10 12:24PM

Parti Socialis Malaysia chairman Mohd Nasir Hashim today urged the Selangor MB to review the dropping of its party's councillor from Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), reminding him of the agreement made in 2008.

“Right after the 2008 election, we were promised three councillor seats and that's what everyone agreed on. We are disappointed now with the fact that our candidate has been dropped without any reason and consultation,” said Mohd Nasir (left).

“If you are not happy with the candidate, we can change him although it won't be easy,” he said.

“But if you say they are under-performing, does it mean we don't do work, or we are not your friend?”

Mohd Nasir, also Kota Damansara assemblyperson, said rumours were rife since June that PSM's Panneerselvam Varathan would not be making the list of new MBPJ councillors.

“I have told Ronnie Liu in April that I want to retain all five councillors in Kota Damansara. When the rumours surfaced last month, Ronnie asked me to speak to Sivarasa.

“Sivarasa, when answering my call, said there are people who are unhappy with (Panneerselvam) , hence he would be replaced by another PKR candidate," said Mohd Nasir.

'Why so many PKR'

“There are already two PKR councillors now, I don't understand why they have to put in another one here.

“They are trying to undermine my constituency,” said Mohd Nasir.

The Kota Damansara constituency is divided into five zones under two local government jurisdictions. PSM previously had two representatives, at MBSA and MBPJ, while PKR had two and DAP one.

With Panneerselvam dropped, PSM is now left with two councillors out of 289 councillor slots in Selangor. Their representative at MPKJ was retained. 

It is understood that Sivarasa (right) has had bad blood with Nasir and Panneerselvam from a long-time dispute over squatters' right.

Panneerselvam also called the decision unfair.

“As far as I know, I have been 'too effective'. This can be seen from the attention given to Kota Damansara among the PJ (Petaling Jaya) areas,” 

“Maybe this has made a lot of people uneasy. They think they should take the credit I got,” the two-term policymaker said.

'We worked hard'

Nasir said the three seats allocated to PSM symbolises the service they had given in those areas.

“We contested in Kajang and Kota Damansara during the last election. The reason why we got three seats is because of (the work that) we have done,” 

He had written letters to Khalid Ibrahim, Anwar Ibrahim and exco for local government Ronnie Liu to demand a review.

“MB (Khalid) told me yesterday that he will seriously look into the issue,” said Mohd Nasir.

When asked, he denied that the move was a consequence of PSM deciding not to join the coalition, at their AGM (left) last month, saying PSM is still a friend of Pakatan.

“Although we are not joining them, we have said (since) day one that we are working with them in this struggle,” he said.

“I hope they can give us an answer quickly, so we can move forward as soon as possible,” he said.

Mohd Nasir said if they receive no response, the party will escalate the issue at the coming central committee meeting next week, and decide the next move from there.