KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu and PAS’ failure to win a single seat in Negri Sembilan in the last state election in 2018 does not mean Pakatan Harapan (PH) can rest on its laurels ahead of the upcoming polls, said DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke.
Speaking at the party’s state annual convention today, the Seremban MP said while PH has a bright chance of defending Negri Sembilan, he warned members against being too comfortable.
“Although there is not a single representative from Perikatan Nasional (PN) at present, we must not be overconfident. We must not underestimate our opponent,” he said in a speech which was streamed live on Facebook.
“We must enter the election ring with a spirit that we will do our best to win. Never take things for granted. We must not feel that because there’s no opposition (in Negri Sembilan) today, we will win,” he said.
In the last election, PH secured 20 out of the 36 seats, allowing them to form the state government, with the remaining constituencies being won by Barisan Nasional (BN).
Bersatu, although then contesting as part of the PH coalition, did not win a single seat.
The formation of the unity government at the federal level – comprising PH, BN and other components – have seen both coalitions now cooperating at the state level too.
Despite dominating the state assembly, Loke reminded DAP members of similar situations in Penang and Selangor in the past, which saw the governments eventually changing hands.
“In 2008, no one thought we could win Selangor and Penang, because we only had one or two seats then. But we won. At the end of the day, the people’s vote can change at any time.
“As such, I would like to remind my friends that although we may seem quite comfortable on paper, don't take things too easily and feel too confident,” he said.
Previously in the 2004 elections, BN had won almost all the seats in both Selangor and Penang, with the then opposition comprising PKR, DAP and PAS winning only two in both states.
However, in 2008, the opposition contesting under the newly formed Pakatan Rakyat coalition caused a major upset in the two states, winning 36 out of 56 in Selangor and 29 out of 40 in Penang.
Meanwhile, Loke said the component parties of today’s unity government have agreed to cooperate in the coming state election, which will be held in Selangor, Penang, Negri Sembilan, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah due within the next few months.
He noted that the parties are currently in the negotiation phase.
“Generally, we hope the seat distribution will be based on the party that won a seat being given the mandate to defend it. That is the principle being proposed.” – The Vibes, February 19, 2023
