GEORGE TOWN, April 9 — Former DAP assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu announced today his intention to contest as a Parti Socialis Malaysia (PSM) candidate in the Sungai Pinang state seat.

The incumbent Tanjung Bungah assemblyman stressed that he will only employ the PSM logo without joining as a member.

“My decision to contest under PSM is part of my 'Reformasi 2.0' agenda in Penang to resolve issues that were not solved since the Opposition took over in 2008,” he said in a press conference at the PSM’s office in Sungai Pinang here.

The issues include a lack of checks and balances in the state assembly and separation of powers in Penang, he said.

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Teh, who won Tanjung Bungah twice, officially resigned from DAP when Parliament was dissolved on Saturday.

He said his campaign in Sungai Pinang will focus on local issues such as flooding due to overflow from the river, which is the namesake of the constituency, Sungai Pinang.

“My manifesto theme will be 'jiwa, alam, harmoni dan suara rakyat' and it will focus on resolving local issues for the constituents,” he said.

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He thanked PSM for giving him the opportunity to collaborate and strengthen socialism, adding that he will join the party once he “meets the party’s strict membership requirements”.

“I hope the people of Sungai Pinang will give me and PSM full support this election,” he said.

PSM central committee member Choo Chon Kai said the party decided to let Teh employ its logo as he met the party’s four criteria for candidacy.

These were for Teh to declare his assets, refrain from racial and religious politics to garner votes, be consistent with PSM’s national election manifesto, and to commit to opening a service centre if he wins the seat.

“Teh has fulfilled all the first criteria and pledged to fulfill the other three criteria so the party decided to allow him to contest under PSM,” Choo said.

He said Teh is the sole PSM candidate in Penang and this will be the first time PSM will run in Penang.

Teh may officially join PSM once he has served the people of a constituency of his choice for a minimum of two years, he added.

Currently, Choo said PSM only has between 30 and 50 members in Penang.

“We believe Teh is a good candidate who can bring forth the peoples’ power and social justice agenda ideology,” he said.

Sungai Pinang is held by DAP. Incumbent Lim Siew Khim won the seat with a 4,707-vote majority overt Gerakan’s Dr Thor Teong Gee and an independent candidate back in 2013.

The constituency has 24,480 registered voters, and is 54 per cent ethnic Chinese and 31 per cent Malay.

There are rumours that Penang Barisan Nasional chairman Teng Chang Yeow is also considering to contest in this constituency.