The Malay Mail
Monday, April 15, 2013 - 14:37
by Amirul Ruslan
Location:
PETALING JAYA
AN UNDERDOG battle of David vs Goliath proportions is on the cards.
Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) wants to take on MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel in the parliamentary seat of Cameron Highlands.
PSM Cameron Highlands secretary Suresh Kumar has been tipped as the party's candidate for the seat.
He feels his service in the constituency will make an impact.
“Palanivel’s tactics in Cameron Highlands are not attracting the voters’ attention. We have held events where people would flock to even without the advantages of free transportation, free food or cash handouts,” said Suresh.
Other PSM officials were equally confident in Suresh’s service record.
“Suresh is no stranger in Cameron Highlands. He was born there and has been serving and assisting the people there for 10 years now. He runs the PSM Cameron Highlands service centre which has solved over 300 cases for the people,” said PSM Cameron Highlands election committee chairman Simon Rajendran.
“With a record like that, we feel Suresh is the best candidate to stand against Palanivel."
However, a stumbling block could come from DAP, which has stated its intention to run for the same seat.
Rajendran said PSM and Pakatan Rakyat shared a common enemy.
“Whatever the outcome, PSM Cameron Highlands has the same objective as Pakatan Rakyat, that is to defeat Barisan Nasional here. We hope DAP will give us the chance to contest this seat,” he said.
In 2008, MIC vice-president S. K. Devamany defeated DAP's J. Apalasamy with a 3,117-vote majority.
PSM has promised to work with Pakatan Rakyat to avoid three-cornered fights but meetings to smooth out the process are in progress, with PSM secretary-general S. Arutchelvan meeting with Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Saturday for negotiations.
