PETALING JAYA: Dr Nasir Hashim will be stepping down as Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) chairman after 23 years, announced the party.

PSM central committee member S. Arutchelvan said that Dr Nasir will step down at the party's congress that will take place from July 12 to 14.

Also stepping down would be deputy PSM chairman M. Sarasvathy.

"Replacing Dr Nasir won't be easy. He isn't just anybody," said Arutchelvan in a statement on Sunday (July 7).

Arutchelvan said that Dr Nasir had previously been detained for 15 years under the Internal Security Act (ISA) during Ops Lalang in 1987 and in the lock-up on many other instances.

Dr Nasir, described as an intellectual, was also a professor, a prolific writer, an artist and was well-versed in acupuncture.

Dr Nasir Hashim had won the Kota Damansara state seat in 2008 but lost out in the 2013 elections.

Arutchelvan said Sarasvathy, who was the “tiger of PSM”, had fought for workers’ rights for more than 40 years.

She had been detained in 2011 under the Emergency Ordinance along with five other PSM leaders for allegedly waging war against the King.

Arutchelcan said both of them had to step down following a central committee resolution in 2007 that set a term of 10 years or five terms for the top four positions of chairman, deputy chairman, secretary-general and treasurer.

This was after members kept electing the same individuals for the roles over the past five terms.

He said that although the decision was known a decade ago, it would be hard for the party's members and supporters to accept it.

"Both these leaders have said that positions aren't important and they will continue to be active in the party," said Arutchelvan.