Nilai assemblyman and DAP vice-chairman J Arul Kumar has been appointed Negeri Sembilan DAP chairman, effective today, following Loke Siew Fook’s resignation from the post.
DAP secretary-general Loke said the state committee unanimously decided to appoint Arul, who previously served as the state DAP vice-chairman.
“Arul’s appointment is a very positive development and demonstrates that DAP is a multiracial party. We assess individuals based on their qualifications and ability to lead,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
Loke said Arul’s appointment was made in accordance with the party constitution.
Arul vows to rebuild public confidence
Arul, 41, said Negeri Sembilan DAP would return to its grassroots and community roots as the party adjusts to life in the opposition following its setback in the Aug 1 state election.
He said the party’s immediate priority was to rebuild public confidence, including in Repah and Chennah, the two state seats it lost in the election.
“Our service must show that we can perform. We will start immediately,” he told FMT.
Loke resigned as state DAP chairman on Aug 3, taking responsibility for the party’s loss of two seats, including Chennah, which he had represented for three terms.
Loke had led Negeri Sembilan DAP since 2002, with the party increasing its representation from two state seats in 2004 to 11 in the 2023 state election.
Arul said DAP had served Negeri Sembilan well during its time in the opposition and had earned the confidence of the people.
“We must use this platform well to serve the people better and rebuild their confidence in us,” said Arul, a former teacher who entered politics in 2010 after four years in the profession.
Focus on grassroots and party unity
Arul said his first task would be to meet DAP’s 140 branches and its assemblymen to discuss ways to strengthen the party’s presence on the ground and continue promoting policies that benefit the public.
Arul, who holds a degree in business administration, has represented Nilai for four terms since 2013.
He also said he wanted to preserve the unity cultivated under Loke’s leadership, describing it as one of DAP’s strengths compared with other parties.
“That is one of our strengths compared with other parties. When it comes to serving the people, we move with one voice and as one party,” he said.
Arul said policies and projects that had benefited Negeri Sembilan should be retained, while DAP would scrutinise the government and speak up when necessary.
“We are now the opposition, so we will play our role in providing checks and balances. But good policies must continue,” he said.
DAP ready to cooperate where interests align
Arul said he and Loke would meet Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Ismail Lasim this week to discuss how both sides could work together where their interests aligned.
Arul, who served with Ismail in the previous state administration, said their personal relationship had not changed simply because they were now on opposite sides of the political divide.
“Where we can cooperate for the people, we will cooperate, but the people’s interests must come first. We are friends, but we will play our role as a check and balance,” he said.
In the state election, Arul retained the Nilai seat after securing 15,797 votes in a five-cornered contest against Barisan Nasional’s Lai Chien Kong, who received 9,860 votes, Bersatu’s V K Saravana with 718 votes, Berjasa’s Zamani Ibrahim with 5,844 votes, and independent candidate Omar Isa with 167 votes.
Loke, meanwhile, lost Chennah to Barisan Nasional’s Siow Kong Choon by 688 votes, ending his bid for a fourth consecutive term as the constituency’s assemblyman.
