SEREMBAN: DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke says he will stay out of Rantau for the entire Negri Sembilan campaign following the Prime Minister's reminder that unity government partners should not attack one another.
"We are under a unity government, and at the federal level there is cooperation between the component parties.
"We should campaign based on what we have to offer and explain our position. This is something everyone must respect," he told reporters after a DAP fundraising dinner here on Sunday (July 19) night.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim previously said that those attacking the Federal Government while campaigning in the state polls should quit.
Loke noted that two Cabinet members were contesting – himself in Chennah and Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who is also the Foreign Minister, in Rantau.
He said he would skip Rantau to preserve harmony in the Federal Government, although PH candidates there would campaign as usual.
On another matter, Loke, who is also Transport Minister, denied any involvement in the awarding of a ministry contract to Integriti Padu Sdn Bhd, a company reportedly linked to the brother of MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.
"It was an open tender. Ministers do not get involved in open tenders," he said in response to a report by The Edge.
Loke said contracts were awarded based on evaluation and price, with all tenders finalised by the Finance Ministry.
"The procurement board does not involve the minister, so I have no say in who gets which tender. We do not know who they are related to," he said.
On the polls, Loke said Pakatan Harapan was targeting at least 23 of the 36 seats – six more than the 17 it held – for a stable majority, as 18 seats would mean a tie and 19 only a simple majority.
He declined to name the seats being eyed as this would expose the coalition's strategy, saying only that they were mostly ones contested by PKR and Amanah.
The 16th Negri Sembilan state election will see early voting on July 28 and polling on Aug 1.
