Latest news with #Arutchelvan
Focus Malaysia
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
PSM hails Rafizi's team of 9 PKR MPs who break rank by calling for RCI to avert judiciary crisis
PARTI Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) has applauded former PKR deputy president and Pandan MP and Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli for having opened the door to the notion that every elected MP is entitled to his/her own conscience vote of not to toeing their party's line if the situation warrants it. Such action of breaking rank from the party whip is an important democratic right of an elected MPs which is hardly practiced in the Malaysian democracy as party reps are bound by party discipline, according to PSM deputy chairman S. Arutchelvan 'Currently it seems thatr only (Pasir Gudang MP) Hassan Karim leverages his conscience vote,' observed Arutchelvan in a reaction to the Rafizi-led nine PKR MPs (including himself) calling for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to probe allege irregularities in the appointment of senior judges, including the Chief Justice. 'While I concur that party discipline is essential for a party yet on serious issues of public interest such as the freedom of judiciary, it is essential for MPs to vote according to their conscience or have a mechanism in their own parliamentary set-up to seek feedback from their electorate.' The nine PKR MPs also formally requested that proceedings and an inquiry be conducted by the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Human Rights, Elections and Institutional Reform, including top government officials to testify. They are Rafizi; Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Kik Ahmad; Subang MP Wong Chen; Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail; Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan; Balik Pulau MP Datuk Bakhtiar Wan Chik; Ledang MP Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh; Sungai Siput MP S. Kesavan; and Batu Pahat MP Onn Abu Bakar. Stressing as to why it is essential and critical that the Malaysian judiciary is independent and robust, Arutchelvan added: 'We also need to have the long overdue separation of the Attorney-General (AG) and the Public Prosecutor which is said to be sitting in the cabinet but not put to parliament yet. 'With all these matters pending, we hope all MPs in the Parliament vote with their conscience to safeguard our pillars of democracy. We have walked this path before and we hope the current PM will adhere to these aspirations.' – July 7, 2025 Main image credit: Malay Mail
Free Malaysia Today
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
If revamp means mimicking mainstream parties, no thanks, says PSM
PSM deputy chairman S Arutchelvan said the party has already undergone a rebranding of sorts over the years, steadily increasing its membership with a much more balanced multiracial makeup. PETALING JAYA : Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) has acknowledged calls for the party to rebrand itself in order to improve its political standing, but insists that it would rather stick to its principles than join the political mainstream. PSM deputy chairman S Arutchelvan said suggestions that the party rebrand were not new and had been raised on multiple occasions by PSM members. However, he questioned what an effective revamp of PSM would entail. Responding to analysts, he said it was true that PSM lacked Malay support but asked if this meant it should only champion issues concerning that particular ethnic group. 'PSM can instantly become the champion of one ethnicity but fail to be champion of all. Is this the kind of rebranding which PSM needs, which other race-based parties are very capable of? 'Should PSM shelve its grassroots work, which other parties don't do, and only focus on sensational issues that can instantly put us in the limelight? 'Does a left-wing party move to the right to get votes, or do we stand our ground, keep to our principles and gain support in the long run? 'I understand that many 'thinking Malaysians' want us to win because of our work and principles. But will they be with us if we rebrand ourselves like the mainstream parties in Malaysia today?' Arutchelvan, also known as Arul, told FMT. He said PSM had already undergone a rebranding of sorts over the years, transitioning from a party that mostly represented plantation workers and urban settlers to championing various issues of public interest. 'Over the years, PSM has steadily increased its membership with a much more balanced multiracial makeup. 'It has championed many policy-level issues, from climate change, pensions for the elderly, affordable housing and better healthcare for all.' Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara had said PSM must look to attract a broader base of voters across ethnic and class lines, particularly the Malays, in order to become a formidable third force. Universiti Sains Malaysia's Sivamurugan Pandian, meanwhile, said PSM lacked logistics, campaign machinery and manpower to mount a strong campaign while its 'socialist' label was a hindrance as many Malaysians still equated socialism with communism. Arutchelvan said Parti Sosialis Rakyat Malaysia sought to shed the 'socialist' label in 1990 when it changed its name to Parti Rakyat Malaysia, but has not enjoyed any election wins. He added that most Malaysians now had no issue with being involved in trade with China and Vietnam, which are governed by the Chinese Communist Party and Communist Party of Vietnam, respectively. 'Sivamurugan said PSM lacks logistics, campaign machinery and manpower to mount a strong campaign. Does that mean PSM has to rely on corporate funding like the bigger parties? 'Perhaps now the analyst will understand why most of the issues championed by PSM, like minimum wage, public healthcare and public housing, are not shared by the other major political parties. 'It goes against their funders' interests,' he said.
