Arul must step out of Loke’s shadow as Negeri Sembilan DAP chief

 Analyst says Loke Siew Fook has become synonymous with Negeri Sembilan DAP after leading the state chapter for more than two decades.

Four-term Nilai assemblyman J Arul Kumar took over as Negeri Sembilan DAP chief from party secretary-general Loke Siew Fook on Aug 10, following Loke’s resignation from the post. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Newly appointed Negeri Sembilan DAP chief J Arul Kumar has big shoes to fill as he takes over the role from party secretary-general Loke Siew Fook, who led the state chapter for more than two decades.

Political analyst Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri of Global Asia Consulting said Loke had become synonymous with Negeri Sembilan DAP, while Arul’s biggest challenge is stepping out of his former boss’s shadow to build his own identity and authority.

Arul, re-elected for the fourth term as Nilai assemblyman on Aug 1, previously served as Loke’s political secretary.

Zaharuddin said Arul’s appointment was also interesting as the state chapter had often been led by a leader from the Chinese community.

“But symbolism is meaningless. Arul must build his own authority,” he told FMT.

He said the appointment could lead Arul – one of the five national DAP vice-chairmen – to being promoted further up the ranks of the party.

“But if he fails, DAP’s political rivals will get new ammunition to paint the party’s multiracialism as being mere window dressing,” he said.

The Negeri Sembilan DAP committee unanimously appointed Arul as its new chairman on Aug 10 to replace Loke, who resigned from the post following his defeat in the Aug 1 state election.

Loke had led Negeri Sembilan DAP since 2002, increasing its representation in the state assembly from two seats in 2004 to a high of 11 in the 2023 state election, but only retaining nine seats in the recent polls.

Lau Zhe Wei of the International Islamic University Malaysia said Arul’s party position could pave the way for him to be appointed opposition leader in the Negeri Sembilan legislative assembly.

However, he did not see Arul’s appointment as having a wide-ranging effect, saying political influence in DAP centred on the central leadership, not the state.

Universiti Utara Malaysia’s Chin Yee Mun agreed, saying Loke would continue to hold influence over Negeri Sembilan DAP owing to his position as party secretary-general. - FMT