DAP is gearing up to defend its six incumbent seats in the upcoming 17th Sabah state election while targeting one or two additional constituencies, DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook announced on Sunday.
Speaking at the 23rd Perak DAP annual convention in Ipoh, Loke revealed that the party has engaged in discussions to secure a collaborative victory, according to a report by Bernama. “In Sabah, DAP holds six seats from the last state election. This time, we will defend all six and aim to contest one or two more seats that we have negotiated for a joint win,” he said.
Strategic Expansion in Sabah
In the 16th Sabah state election, DAP contested seven seats and secured victories in six: Luyang, Likas, Kapayan, Sri Tanjong, Elopura, and Tanjong Papat. However, the party faced setbacks when two of its assemblymen, representing Elopura and Sri Tanjong, defected to Parti Warisan in 2022. Despite this, DAP has identified at least two new state seats in Sabah’s interior as potential targets for the upcoming election, reflecting its ambition to strengthen its presence in the state.
Loke’s announcement underscores DAP’s strategic focus on maintaining its foothold in Sabah while expanding its influence through careful negotiations with coalition partners. This approach resonates with Sabah’s electorate, who value political stability and collaborative governance in a state known for its diverse communities and competitive electoral landscape.
Addressing Party-Hopping Concerns
When asked by reporters about measures to prevent future defections following the 2022 incident, Loke expressed confidence in DAP’s leadership depth. “We are not worried about this issue as we have other capable leaders,” he said. He highlighted a safeguard in the DAP constitution, which stipulates that any elected representative who switches to another party will be disqualified from DAP membership, triggering a by-election for the affected seat.
This clause reflects DAP’s commitment to maintaining party loyalty and ensuring accountability, a principle that aligns with the expectations of Malaysian voters, particularly in Sabah, where political integrity is a key concern.
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