Party deputy chairman S Arulchelvan, who is also PSM national election director, said Arangkannal, 46, also known as Ara, would be fielded in the Kota Iskandar state seat.

“Ara has also been an activist for 10 years and has been with PSM for two years in Kota Iskandar,” he said at a press conference at PSM operations room in Kampung Baru Kangkar Pulai near here tonight.

He said Arangkannal was selected according to the party’s policy, which stipulates that a candidate must serve under the party in the constituency he wishes to contest for at least two years.

Arulchelvan said although it was PSM’s first appearance in the state elections, he was confident that the party’s candidate could woo voters in the constituency.

At the candidate naming ceremony, Arangkannal also declared his assets and vowed not to use racial sentiments in his campaign.

Arangkannal is a film and political science graduate of Universiti Sains Malaysia and has 20 years’ experience in film and broadcasting.