General Election (GE) 13 : Sungai Siput 08 : Dr Michael Jeyakumar says the PAS president's remarks will affect Malay votes

PETALING JAYA: Incumbent Sungai Siput MP Dr D Michael Jeyakumar is worried about his chances of winning over the Malay electorate following PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s outburst against PSM.
“We have problems over Hadi’s statement among the Malay voters but it is a non-issue for the non- Malay voters.

“We are taking the bull by the horn by addressing this issue in our ceramah sessions in the Malay areas,” said Jeyakumar whose constituency is made up of 33% Malay voters.
On Monday, Hadi described PSM as a party glorifying communism with photographs of Lenin, Marx and other communist personalities without naming the party.
Hadi said this while explaining the reason for the multiple candidates contesting from Pakatan component parties.

Another issue that affects Jeyakumar’s chances is DAP’s decision in dropping incumbent DAP representative Leong Mee Meng for Loh Sze Yee for the Jalong state seat, which falls under Sungai Siput.
“The Chinese voters are upset with DAP’s decision to drop Lee. They may not turn up to vote or they may vote BN,” he said.
He is however confident that his relationship with the Pakatan components will not impede his chances of retaining Sungai Siput.
“Here we have pragmatism, PAS needs our support to win the Lintang state seat and DAP works with us to retain the Jalong state seat,” said the first term MP.
He said this when asked about the party’s chances of retaining Sungai Siput while the party faces multiple cornered fights in three other state seats.

‘People disappointed with PKR’
In Semenyih, PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan is facing a three-cornered battle with Umno and PKR’s Hamidi Hassan.
“We have no issues with PKR so far but the people are dissapointed that PKR is contesting against us.
“The questions are who is to take the blame and who is winnable? We say we are winnable and are pro-Pakatan. PKR are the spoilers,” Arutchelvan said.

Party chairman Nasir Hashim has a six-cornered battle with three independents, Umno and PAS in Kota Damansara after Redzuan Ismail of PAS filed his nomination papers.
“The votes are split so my chances of winning is slimmer now. PAS even performed prayers to ensure my defeat on nomination day. We would not get the support from PAS’ hardcore supporters,” said Nasir.
PSM deputy chairman M Sarasvathy is facing a three-cornered fight for the Jelapang state seat in Perak with DAP and MIC joining the fray.

She however is confident of the voters’ support and brushed aside concerns that she is contesting in a Chinese-majority seat.
“They don’t see me as an Indian but as a fellow Malaysian. I don’t see any difference in their treatment towards me just because I am ethnic Indian,” she said.
Jelapang has 68% Chinese voters.