During the last general election in 2018, the party contested in five parliamentary and 12 state seats and did not win any.

“We had won two seats in the 13th general election in 2013. Here, we need to understand that people voted for us because we represented the opposition and all the voters wanted was to remove Barisan Nasional.

“They do not understand our socialist ideas, neither did they vote for the party. They saw us only as opposition candidates,” he said in his speech at the PSM congress held virtually.

Jeyakumar was Sungai Siput MP from 2013 to 2018, while former PSM chairman Mohd Nasir Hashim was Kota Damansara assemblyman during the same period.

Jeyakumar said things have changed a little now and the people are beginning to realise that PSM’s objectives are different from that of Pakatan Harapan (PH).

“We are always consistent in championing issues affecting the people. But I am afraid this change is way behind what is needed to win a three-cornered fight against PH and PN-BN-PAS. It’s tough,” he said.

Jeyakumar told the congress that the PSM leadership had received suggestions from members asking the party to cooperate with PH in GE15.

“The majority of the members agree that we can have a conditional electoral pact with PH. We have met PH representatives to discuss the matter,” he said but did not disclose any details.

He added that the PSM leadership would call for another internal meeting next year to go through the matter before making a decision.

“There is a possibility that some members might have different views but this is expected in any party,” he said.