DAP leaders in Negeri Sembilan must continue serving residents even if they no longer hold public office, says party secretary-general Loke Siew Fook.
Speaking at the Negeri Sembilan DAP convention in Seremban, Loke urged former local councillors and village community management council (MPKK) members to continue assisting residents who seek their help.
“If voters come for help, please do everything that you can to assist them. Don’t say that now that I am no longer in the (state) government or local councils, I can’t help,” he said.
“That is not the right way. If people still seek our help even though we are no longer in the state government, it shows they still have confidence in DAP and Pakatan Harapan.”
Continue serving despite losing allocations
Loke also called on DAP MPs and assemblymen in Negeri Sembilan to support grassroots leaders in serving the public.
“Although we no longer have state allocations, that does not mean we can’t do anything,” he said.
He recalled that DAP had spent decades in opposition without receiving allocations but had still found ways to serve the people.
DAP currently holds nine seats in the Negeri Sembilan state assembly, down from the 11 it won in the 2023 state election. The party lost Chennah and Repah to MCA in the August election.
Loke to make way for new state leaders
Loke, who stepped down as Negeri Sembilan DAP chairman after losing Chennah, said he would not defend his seat on the state committee when the chapter holds its leadership elections next year.
He said he wanted to make way for new faces to lead the state chapter and focus on leading the party at the national level.
Loke reflected on Negeri Sembilan DAP’s growth over the past 22 years, from winning just two state seats in the 2004 general election to securing parliamentary and state seats in subsequent elections and taking over the state government in 2018.
He said he was glad to have led the state chapter for 22 years and supported the need to pass the baton to new leaders.
“Despite being a new state chief, (J Arul Kumar) has a wealth of experience, having worked with me for 10 years. I am confident that under Arul’s leadership, Negeri Sembilan DAP will move forward and continue to excel.”
Party must prepare for possible state election
Loke also urged Negeri Sembilan DAP to prepare for all eventualities amid political uncertainty in the state, where menteri besar Ismail Lasim currently has no executive councillors to assist him.
“We need to prepare for any possibility, which includes a (state) election. We don’t know that (will happen). But this is something we need to be prepared for,” he said.
“Our focus should not be problems facing our opponents … our focus should be on strengthening our party.”
