COMMENT Rather than apply to join Pakatan Rakyat with whom it has deep ideological differences, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) ought to first build up its support base and show that it is a political group that can garner votes at the polls.

Right now only Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj ( right ), their only MP (Sungai Siput), is a viable electoral proposition; PSM chairperson Dr Mohd Nasir Hashim (formerly Selangor state representative Kota Damansara), secretary-general M Arutchelvam (contested in Semenyih in vain twice) and deputy president P Jayanthi (contested Jelapang twice, also in vain) are far from being electable on their own right.