DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has acknowledged that defending the Chennah state assembly seat will present a different challenge at every election, but said DAP would not rely on political assumptions or demographic predictions as it seeks to retain the constituency under Pakatan Harapan.
Loke, who is also Transport Minister, said the seat had undergone significant changes since he first contested it in 2013, with shifting opponents, evolving political dynamics and a changing voter landscape influencing each election battle.
However, he stressed that politics was not a mathematical exercise where outcomes could be predicted through simple formulas, saying DAP would continue to adopt a people-focused approach to secure support from voters of all backgrounds.
Loke said Chennah, which was once regarded as a difficult seat for DAP to capture, had since become a constituency the party successfully retained through successive elections, although each victory came with different challenges.
He recalled that he was initially expected to contest the Lobak state seat in 2013 but was later fielded in Chennah as part of DAP’s strategy to expand its representation and build a stronger presence in the area.
“No one believed we could win the constituency, and the then Chief Minister even described it as ‘burying’ me here.”
Despite the doubts, Loke won the seat in the 2013 election by defeating the Barisan Nasional candidate with a majority of 1,098 votes, establishing DAP’s foothold in Chennah.
Reflecting on the 2018 state election, he said the party again faced uncertainty when it contested a three-cornered fight, with many observers predicting difficulties for DAP in retaining the constituency.
However, DAP managed to hold the seat with 51.8% of the vote before improving its performance in the 2023 state election, when it retained Chennah with 61.58% of the votes.
Oriental Daily News cited Loke admitting that the constituency’s demographic structure had changed, with Malay voters now forming the largest voter group, followed by Chinese voters and the Orang Asli community.
“On paper, if it is only based on demographic analysis, this structure is not favourable to us.”
Nevertheless, he said electoral realities extended beyond demographic statistics, adding that voter behaviour was influenced by multiple factors including candidates, campaigns, policies and public perception.
He said political contests were not as straightforward as “one plus one equals two”, as assumptions about voter trends did not always reflect actual outcomes on the ground.
Loke said DAP would not depend solely on its traditional support base but would work to gain confidence from all communities in the constituency.
“Chinese voters are certainly an important battleground because we are facing the MCA, but we are also trying to win the support of Malay voters and indigenous people.”
Addressing criticism that he had become less visible in Chennah after taking up federal responsibilities, Loke said such claims were common during political contests.
He explained that the duties of a federal minister differed from those of a state assemblyman, requiring him to balance constituency responsibilities with national-level commitments.
“Does the fact that I can’t sit in a coffee shop every day mean I can help voters?”
Loke argued that effective representation should be measured by the ability to deliver results rather than simply maintaining a daily physical presence at local gathering spots, adding, holding a ministerial position allowed him to secure greater resources and development support for the constituency.
“If you are just an ordinary state legislator, your resources mainly come from the state government; but a ministerial position can bring in resources from the central government.”
He cited local development efforts, including the construction of a new teaching block at Chung Ying Primary School in Chennah and assistance provided to community groups and religious institutions in obtaining funding, as examples of how his federal role had benefited residents.
Loke said the ability to deliver meaningful improvements for the people would remain central to DAP’s campaign as it seeks to defend the Chennah seat. - July 22, 2026
