Loke denies funding undang's rivals, meddling in Adat Perpatih

 

N SEMBILAN POLLS | DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has hit back at political rivals accusing him of interfering in Negeri Sembilan’s Adat Perpatih institution, calling the allegations “completely ridiculous”.

The incumbent Chennah assemblyperson said rumours were being spread that he had a hand in the ongoing royal dispute in the state by funding a rival faction of disputed Sungai Ujong chieftain Mubarak Thahak.

He said he was also accused of being involved in brewing tensions within the Jelebu royal institution.

Denying the claims, Loke stressed that he respected the Negeri Sembilan ruler, the four undangs, and customary chiefs, saying there was no reason for him to interfere in Adat matters.

Rejecting meddling claims

“These are completely baseless and illogical claims. Yet, some people believe them. People believe this kind of slander because falsehoods are often easier to believe than the truth.

“People take them as fact. They genuinely think it’s true. But if we stop and think about it, what possible benefit would I gain from interfering in Adat affairs? Adat has nothing to do with me.

“Adat matters are handled within the traditional Adat system itself. What benefit would there be for me to interfere with or disrupt that system?

“We respect it. We respect the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, the four undangs, and the tunku besar of Tampin,” he said.

Loke was speaking to voters in Kampung Sungai Rotan, a Malay-majority area under Chennah, which he is defending against BN candidate John Siow Kong Choon.

Royal crisis blame game

BN has accused the state Pakatan Harapan government, of which DAP is a component party, of mishandling the Negeri Sembilan royal dispute, causing it to escalate and prompting the four territorial chieftains to invoke their authority to remove state ruler Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.

The dispute also fuelled rumours that Loke had allegedly channelled substantial funds to an entity linked to Sungai Ujong nobles opposed to Mubarak.

Loke’s political secretary has since lodged a police report against former Bersatu leader Badrul Hisham Shaharin over a social media post making the allegation.

Former Bersatu leader Badrul Hisham Shaharin

It is also understood that tensions are brewing in Jelebu between chieftain Maarof Mat Rashad and a group of the territory’s dato lembaga adat.

Loke further insisted that he and DAP were being made convenient scapegoats by political rivals.

ADS

“Because the easiest way out is to blame DAP, blame me. Other people are never wrong.

“Whereas this crisis occurred because 14 assemblypersons from Umno led by Datuk Jalal (Negeri Sembilan Umno chief Jalaluddin Alias) withdrew their support (from the Harapan-led state government).

“If they did not do this and we worked together to solve this issue, then we would not have to hold this election now.

“We have been working together for the past three years and formed a stable state government. But all of a sudden, they withdrew their support. Maybe because they see an opportunity for (Jalaluddin) to become the menteri besar,” Loke said.

Chennah is a mixed-race seat with 14,422 voters, comprising Malays (48.49 percent), Chinese (42.57 percent), Indians (two percent), and others (6.93 percent). - Mkini