DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke will defend his Chennah seat in the upcoming Negeri Sembilan state polls, quelling rumours of his supposed plan to move to Penang.
Addressing a press conference this morning, he said the state DAP decided to defend all of its 11 incumbent seats and help allies in Pakatan Harapan secure at least nine others, which would enable them to form a simple majority in the state legislative assembly.
"So, we hope the people of Negeri Sembilan will give their mandate to Negeri Sembilan Harapan. DAP will play its role wholeheartedly to win all the seats we contest and to achieve that aspiration and objective.
"As the party's secretary-general and also Negeri Sembilan DAP chairperson, I have made the decision and received the support of the party's central executive committee as well as the state DAP committee to lead this election campaign by contesting in the state election," Loke told the conference, which was held after the state DAP committee meeting in Seremban.
Previously, Chinese-language media reported speculation that Loke might contest in Penang and take over the island state leadership from Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
This was supposedly part of a plan to address the worsening internal war between factions led by Chow and DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng, who is also a former Penang chief minister.
Loke had been an assemblyperson in Negeri Sembilan since 2004, when he won the Lobak seat. In the 2013 general election, he switched seats and won Chennah, and has since managed to retain it in two other elections.
‘Umno to blame’
Loke expressed confidence that Harapan can secure a simple majority and form a state government on its own.
The transport minister blamed Umno for the snap election, saying that the state Harapan leadership was forced to return the mandate to the rakyat after Umno assemblypersons pulled their support for caretaker menteri besar Aminuddin Harun in late April.
Despite Harapan and BN having an agreement at the federal level for the Umno assemblypersons to continue supporting the state government, including approving the state annual budget proposal, Loke said it was a big risk to take.
"So, the best move is for us to return the mandate to the rakyat and hold an election so they can decide which party will have the majority," he added.
Two weeks ago, Loke had vowed that Harapan would respond to any dissolution of the Johor state assembly with a similar move in Negeri Sembilan.
This came after caretaker Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi declared that BN will go solo in the next state election.
On June 1, Onn announced the dissolution of the Johor state assembly.
Three days later, Aminuddin announced the same for the Negeri Sembilan state assembly. - Mkini
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