THE Democratic Action Party (DAP) has made it clear that it intends to retain all Parliamentary and State seats it previously won if Pakatan Harapan (PH) continues its political cooperation with Barisan Nasional (BN) ahead of the 16th General Election (PRU16).
Reiterating the party’s position, DAP Secretary-General Anthony Loke Siew Fook said such an arrangement should adhere to principles agreed upon within the ruling coalition.
“If we are working together under the Unity Government framework, then we cannot be contesting against each other. This means there must be a clear division of seats,” said Loke, who serves as the Minister of Transport.
“The principle should be that any seat won by a particular party must remain with that party.”
He was speaking to reporters after officiating the Negeri Sembilan DAP Convention on Sunday.
Loke, who is the MP for Seremban, added that seats currently held by the opposition would be subject to inter-party negotiations.
He also emphasised that DAP is willing to continue its cooperation within the Unity Government, but the outcome also depends on BN’s commitment.
“In Negeri Sembilan, it is clear — we won all 11 seats, both Parliament and State Assembly. So, we’re not asking for more,” he said. “For instance, Labu is currently held by Perikatan Nasional, but since it was contested by PKR, we are not laying claim to it.”
On claims that DAP was the cause of friction between BN and MCA, Loke dismissed the accusation with a pointed remark: “I don’t wish to interfere. That’s their domestic issue. Just don’t blame others when you have problems at home.”
Separately, Loke proposed that 16th General Election (GE16) be held concurrently for both Parliamentary and State seats, arguing that simultaneous elections would save public funds and ensure a smoother electoral process.
“Historically, elections in the Peninsula have always been held simultaneously. It was only recently that we began seeing separate elections, and that’s an anomaly,” he said. “We want to maximise our chances electorally, but also reduce redundancy and logistical costs.”
He urged leaders of Unity Government states to consult with the Prime Minister to coordinate the timing of their respective dissolutions. While each state assembly holds the constitutional right to decide its own timeline, he believes a unified approach would serve the public better.
“This proposal hasn’t been officially discussed yet, but I believe it would be more responsible to hold all elections at the same time. Many logistical elements can be handled more efficiently,” he said, warning party members to remain in a constant state of readiness.
“It’s better to prepare now. Running concurrent elections saves cost, and we’ve already seen the financial burden of staggered polls during the last cycle.”
The 15th General Election was held for Parliamentary seats on 19 November 2022, while state elections followed a staggered schedule. Sabah held its polls first on 26 September 2020, followed by Melaka (20 November 2021), Sarawak (18 December 2021), and Johor (12 March 2022).
The remaining six states held their elections on 12 August 2023. - September 21, 2025
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