Lawyer-activist Siti Kasim joins PBM

Lawyer-activist Siti Kasim has decided to join Larry Sng’s Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM), marking her first entry into a political party.

Siti, who contested as an independent candidate in the 15th general election (GE15), said she previously refused to join political parties because she viewed the freedom to speak her mind and act according to her conscience as crucial.

“I agreed to join PBM because its leadership has agreed to respect that independence. I will remain free to express my views and pursue the causes I believe in. My principles and my voice are not conditions I am prepared to surrender for political membership.

“Joining a party does not mean giving anyone a free pass. I will continue to speak up against injustice and hold those in power accountable, including those on my own side,” she said in a Facebook post.

Siti also said she would continue championing the Orang Asli, constitutional freedoms, equality and the marginalised as a PBM member.

The lawyer headed a group of independent candidates known as Gerak during GE15, and vied for the hotly contested parliamentary seat of Batu.

She garnered only 653 votes and lost her deposit, as PKR’s P Prabarakan was elected to a second term as Batu MP with a 22,241-vote majority.

Siti has been a fierce critic of conservative policies, and previously raised the need to separate religion and government.

In July 2023, bombs were discovered under her car during a routine service of the vehicle. Police later confirmed that the objects were improvised explosive devices.