Loke: DAP wants to defend its 11 state seats in Negri Sembilan

SEREMBAN: DAP wants to defend all 11 state seats it won in the last general election in Negri Sembilan, says Anthony Loke (pic).

The Negri Sembilan DAP chief said the party was confident of retaining all the seats which it had been winning since 2013.

He noted that although there was no state election here during GE15, the party "won" all the 11 seats based on votes received in each constituency.

"So, we wish to defend all 11 in the coming state election," said Loke, who is also DAP secretary-general, after opening the state party convention here on Sunday (Feb 19).

Asked if the same would apply in the other five states where polls are also due this year, Loke said he would leave this to the respective state chairmen.

"Being the state DAP chairman, this is my proposal for Negri. The leaders of the other states will hold their own discussions and we will take it from there," he said.

Loke said Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun will hold talks with the political parties in the state which have formed the unity government at the federal level.

Asked if the party was willing to give up any seats, Loke, who is also Seremban MP, said he did not wish to pre-empt negotiations.

"We won 10 seats in the 2008 general election and since 2013, have been winning 11 seats.

"So this is our proposal before we start negotiations.

"There have to be parameters and principles in any talks. This is my suggestion for Negri Sembilan and we leave this to the wisdom of our MB," he said, adding that the party was also not being greedy by asking for additional seats.

In the 2018 state polls, Pakatan Harapan won 20 seats while Barisan Nasional bagged the remaining 16.

Asked if he would be defending the Chennah seat, Loke said in jest that he would have to ask Aminuddin if his services were still needed by the state.

On whether or not Pakatan’s allies in the unity government had to be fearful of Perikatan Nasional's influence, Loke said he has advised party members not to take anything for granted.

"Based on the recent parliamentary election, PN did get some additional support in some areas in Negri.

"So, we will have to come up with strategies to ensure we are able to form the state government again," he said.

Aminuddin, when contacted, said he agreed with Loke's proposal in principle – that parties which won seats in the last election be allowed to defend them.

"If we follow that principle, we would not have many problems in our talks.

"But we are open and will discuss with the others (on the best formula)," he said.

Asked if he had started talks with state Barisan chief Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Aminuddin said they had yet to meet.

"We will hold talks with the relevant parties and forward the suggestions to the presidential council before a final decision can be made," he said.

Separately, Aminuddin said he would be meeting his counterparts from the five other states in the next few days to discuss suitable dates to dissolve their respective assemblies.

He said the Election Commission (EC) has also agreed to give them a briefing if they agreed to hold their state elections simultaneously.

Asked if he would be defending the Sikamat seat, Aminuddin, who is also Port Dickson MP, said it was too early to decide.