SEREMBAN: Pakatan Harapan is aiming to secure more than 20 seats in the upcoming Negri Sembilan state election, says state DAP chief Anthony Loke.
Loke expressed confidence in achieving this target, noting that the coalition had previously won 20 seats on its own during the 2018 state polls.
"We are targeting more than 20 this time around so that Pakatan can govern Negri Sembilan on its own," he told reporters after chairing the state DAP meeting.
Loke said he had also received the blessing of the party's central executive committee and the state DAP to contest in the coming state election.
"I can confirm that I will be defending the Chennah seat," he said.
He first won the seat in the 2013 polls.
In the last state election in 2023, the incumbent retained the seat with a majority of 2,200 votes in a straight fight against Perikatan Nasional Rosmadi Arif.
Loke said that the DAP would also be defending the 11 seats it won in the last state election.
"We will contest all the seats we won in 2023 and will not be swapping any,” he said.
He said DAP would also assist the other Pakatan component parties - PKR and Amanah - to campaign in constituencies they were contesting.
Loke reiterated that Pakatan was forced to call for a snap election following the decision by 14 Umno assemblymen to withdraw support for Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.
"We could not take the risk, although we were told that they would continue to support the unity government.
"If they suddenly decide not to support the passing of the state Budget during the October sitting, then the assembly would also have to be dissolved to pave the way for a state election," he said.
Loke said he also expects the Johor and state polls to be held simultaneously in July.
The Negri Sembilan assembly was dissolved on June 5.
Loke said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was also scheduled to launch the state Pakatan's election machinery on Friday (June 12).
In the 2023 state polls, Pakatan won 17 seats followed by Barisan Nasional (14) and Perikatan (five).
Then, Pakatan and Barisan had formed an electoral pact following the formation of the federal Unity Government after the 15th general election in November 2022.
