Latest news with #PartiSosialisMalaysia
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
21 reports lodged against LGBT programme, says police
KUALA LUMPUR: Police have launched an investigation into a programme related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) organised by the youth wing of Parti Sosialis Malaysia. Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the case is being investigated under Section 298A of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. "To date, the Selangor Police have received 21 police reports lodged by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and members of the public opposing the event. "The programme is seen as clearly overstepping public sensitivities and violating national laws, which do not support any form of LGBT practices in the country," he said in a statement today. Hussein added that police believe the programme was planned to be held on June 21 at an undisclosed location in Petaling Jaya.
CNA
5 days ago
- General
- CNA
Malaysia minister seeks police probe on upcoming LGBTQ event, says it ‘violates moral values'
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Religious Affairs Minister has called for a police probe on a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ)-themed event planned for next month, reiterating the government's stance against efforts to normalise what he called 'deviant' lifestyles. The event, called 'Pride Care: Queer Stories and Sexual Health Awareness', is organised by the youth wing of the Socialist Party of Malaysia – or Parti Sosialis Malaysia – and scheduled to take place in Petaling Jaya on Jun 21. Minister Mohd Na'im Mokhtar on Wednesday (May 28) urged the authorities, including the Royal Malaysia Police, to investigate and take action should there be any breach of the law, national news agency Bernama reported. In a statement on Facebook, Na'im called on the organisers to immediately cease all activities that 'violate the law and moral values of society'. 'The organisation of such programmes, even if held behind closed doors, clearly challenges societal norms and religious values upheld by the majority of Malaysians,' he said. Parti Sosialis Malaysia's youth wing had posted on Monday on social media platform X that it would be hosting its 'very first queer-centred event' on Jun 21. The party was registered in 2008 and member Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj held a parliamentary seat from 2008 to 2018 under the Parti Keadilan Rakyat's banner. But Parti Sosialis Malaysia suffered defeat in the 2018 general election when it ran under its own banner. 'A 'by queers, for queers' initiative that shines a spotlight on the shared reality of living as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community in this country,' the youth wing wrote. It said the event would feature a forum and a presentation on sexual health awareness, and the venue would be disclosed five days in advance. In the wake of the post, some netizens urged the authorities to take action. Minister Na'im said Malaysia's Islamic development department (JAKIM) and state religious departments are ready to enforce regulations, especially if the event involves Muslim participants. 'At the same time, I call on all parties to help defend our society's social and moral structure from any elements that could undermine our faith, ethics and national harmony,' he said in his statement. MALAYSIA'S CLAMPDOWN ON PRIDE CULTURE This is not the first time controversy has erupted over LGBTQ-related matters in the country. In May 2023, the Home Affairs Ministry seized 172 Swatch rainbow watches from 11 shopping malls across the country for allegedly promoting LGBTQ values. The Swiss watchmaker filed, and won, a lawsuit against the government. Last November, Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Amarjeet Singh Serjit Singh said the Home Ministry's raid of Swatch stores and seizure of its watches were illegal as they were made without a warrant. He ordered that the seized watches be returned. In 2023, Malaysia also halted a music festival in Kuala Lumpur after the frontman of British pop rock band The 1975 kissed a male bandmate onstage and criticised the country's anti-LGBTQ laws. On Wednesday, Na'im said the government remains committed to upholding the Islamic principles in national governance to protect religion, morality and human dignity. 'Deviant cultures will never be accepted as the norm in Malaysia,' he said.
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.
Free Malaysia Today
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
PSM needs rebrand to be formidable third force, say analysts
KS Bawani of PSM campaigning during the Ayer Kuning by-election last month. She polled 1,106 votes. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Although Parti Sosialis Malaysia has positioned itself as a third force and carved out a reputation of fighting for the working class, the party needs a rebrand if it hopes to become a formidable political challenger, according to political observers. Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said that while PSM managed to double its vote count in the Ayer Kuning by-election from its haul in the 2022 general election, the party still lacked Malay support. PSM must look to attract a broader base of voters to boost its political standing, going beyond being outspoken in championing issues plaguing farmers and estate workers. 'According to unofficial statistics from political parties, only 46 Malays voted for them in Ayer Kuning. This shows that the stigma of socialism is still strong (among the Malays). 'To be a serious third force, PSM must rebrand and be able to attract members across ethnic and class lines,' said Azmi. Known for championing farmers, plantation workers and marginalised communities, PSM has only ever won one parliamentary seat, namely the Sungai Siput constituency when Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj was elected MP in 2008 and 2013 on PKR tickets. He failed to defend the seat in the 2018 general election and lost to PKR's S Kesavan, after PSM failed to reach an electoral pact with Pakatan Harapan. PSM and youth party Muda formed an alliance for the 2023 six state elections, but both parties suffered heavy defeats with all of their candidates losing their deposits. Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia said PSM's 'socialist' label remained a major stumbling block as many Malaysians still equated socialism with communism. He said socialism remained 'a hard sell, especially among rural and even urban voters'. Sivamurugan said PSM lacked logistics, campaign machinery and manpower to mount a strong campaign, even though its candidate in Ayer Kuning picked up more votes. 'They are still very much limited in terms of strength compared with other political parties.' Separately, Urimai chairman P Ramasamy praised PSM for its commitment to addressing class inequality, crediting the party with doing a stellar job in championing issues involving the working class. However, the former Penang DAP leader advised PSM to widen its focus, saying it cannot escape the political reality that the main fault lines in Malaysia were ethnicity, religion and culture. 'If they want broader appeal, they must also address national concerns like racial and cultural discrimination. Socialism looks at class inequality but racial discrimination is also part of discrimination,' he said. While PSM's focus on land rights and farmers was commendable, Ramasamy said, expanding its voter base by taking on urban issues and the grievances of minorities could strengthen its position as a third force. 'The class contradiction is real but it's not the only contradiction that matters in Malaysian politics,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
More than 1,500 join Labour Day rally in KL
The rally carried the theme 'Workers are the pillars of the country: Raise salaries, not burdens'. KUALA LUMPUR : More than 1,500 people gathered outside Pasar Seni today to take part in a Labour Day rally, calling for better workers' rights and reforms. Dressed largely in black, white and red, the crowd began assembling at about 9.30am before marching towards Dataran Merdeka. Along the way, they chanted slogans like 'Youths want paid internships' and 'Wages to live, not to go hungry', while holding placards demanding fair treatment for workers. The event was organised by Jawatankuasa Satu Mei, a coalition that includes political parties such as Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) and Muda, as well as student groups, NGOs and civil society organisations. The rally carried the theme 'Workers are the pillars of the country: Raise salaries, not burdens'. Among the key demands voiced by the participants were an increase in the national minimum wage to RM2,000 and the implementation of a comprehensive affordable housing policy. PSM Youth committee member Aiman Farihah Shukri urged the government to refrain from creating 'pro-capitalism policies' and instead come up with policies that truly benefit the rakyat. She also called on the government to raise the minimum wage from RM1,700 to RM2,000 or above, saying that a higher amount was needed to deal with the rising cost of living in the Klang Valley. Meanwhile, Himpunan Advokasi Rakyat Malaysia (Haram) coordinator Alyaah Hani Anuar called on the government to ensure those undergoing internship receive a salary of at least RM1,700 per month. 'Many interns are treated like free labour and this is not a new issue. How can they support themselves in Kuala Lumpur if they do not get paid?' Gerakan Badan Bertindak Sahabat E-Hailing Malaysia chairman Zulkifli Othman, on the other hand, said the current pay of about RM6 an hour is not enough for e-hailing drivers to cover essential expenses and also pay for insurance coverage in the event of a road accident. The rally ended peacefully at around 12.40pm.
