The Ant Daily - 15/9/2013
By Al Jafree Md Yusop
Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) is one of the oldest parties in the country but has yet to make an impact on the national scene. This is simply because under the two-party system practised in Malaysia, smaller parties like PRM stand no chance of making it big.
Hence, PRM wants to change this traditional system because it believes it is not benefiting the people. It is now pushing for the proportional voting system.
“Under the current two-party system, smaller parties get wiped out. No representatives from these parties have ever been elected to the State Legislative Assembly or Parliament,” PRM president Dr Rohana Ariffin told theantdaily.
“Under the proportional voting system, a fairer representation of the various groups in our society could be better represented,” she added.
“For instance, the aborigines comprised seven per cent of the population; they should get at least about similar representation in Parliament.
“Women and youths, too, would have a bigger share of political representation in Parliament. Not only are bigger political parties represented in Parliament but we will also have MPs representing other interest groups and smaller parties,” she said.
PRM was founded by Ahmad Boestamam on Nov 11, 1955. In 2003, it merged with Parti Keadilan Nasional to become Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
However, in 2007 the court declared that PRM still exists. After the historic 2008 general election, Pakatan Rakyat was formed but PRM stayed out of it.
PRM now plans to continue its role as a political and social critique of any unequal economic and social relations and of any form of exploitation, corruption and abuse of power in the country.
“Our vision is contrary to the mainstream thinking of both the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan.
The results of the 13th general election showed a clear a political divide between those who supported the government and those opposing it,” said Rohana.
“This clearly reflected the typical Malaysian mindset: an unchanging pattern continuing for many years, voting primarily for political parties rather than for any good candidates who may have served them well over the years or having the potential to do so,” she added.
PRM may be a very old party but Rohana said the party is still active. She pointed out that its small membership was due to several factors
.
“One, some members have accepted the merger of PKR. Two, some members were not sure where to go from there.
“Some members have complained of feeling being ‘let down’ by the former leaders and thus have no more faith to be in PRM. Some felt the need to reorganise the party to strengthen it,” she said.
“The public perception is that PRM does not exist any longer, particularly among the urban youths,” said Rohana, who was an associate professor at Universiti Sains Malaysia.
The party, however, has not lost its traditional struggle, that is, fighting against injustice.
According to Rohana, PRM believed that all oppressive institutions that curb basic human rights irrespective of gender and age should be abolished.
“These outdated institutions included propagating fascistic and fanatical tendencies; they should be replaced with institutions that support human rights with humanity and compassion,” she said.
