KUALA LUMPUR – Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has urged DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke to reconsider his decision to step down as Negeri Sembilan DAP chairman, as the state party committee expressed solidarity with its embattled leader following his defeat in the Chennah seat.
Loke, who had held Chennah for three consecutive terms since 2013, suffered a narrow loss to Barisan Nasional (BN) newcomer Siow Kong Choon (John) in the 16th Negeri Sembilan state election.
Unofficial results showed Loke securing 5,060 votes, while Siow received 5,593 votes, giving the BN candidate a majority of 533 votes.
Following the defeat, Loke said he would consider relinquishing his position as Negeri Sembilan DAP chairman and reassess his role within the party.
Speaking to reporters after officiating the George Town Festival 2026 at Padang Kota Lama in Penang, Chow said Loke should take some time before making any decision regarding his future in the state party leadership.
“He should cool down for a day or two before making a decision,” Chow said, as quoted by Buletin Mutiara.
“The party still needs him,” he added.
Chow described Chennah as one of the most challenging contests in the election, particularly following the new political cooperation between BN and Perikatan Nasional (PN).
“From the beginning of the campaign, we acknowledged that it would be a difficult contest because of the constituency’s racial composition and the new political configuration. The campaign also became heavily centred on racial and religious issues. Despite those circumstances, it was a very close fight,” he said.
Unofficial results showed BN winning 18 state seats while PN secured seven, allowing the BN-PN alliance to claim a two-thirds majority in the Negeri Sembilan Legislative Assembly and ending Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) administration in the state.
Meanwhile, Negeri Sembilan DAP has thrown its support behind Loke, urging him to remain as state party chairman despite the electoral setback.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Negeri Sembilan DAP secretary Cha Kee Chin said the party’s state committee had unanimously agreed to appeal for Loke to continue leading the chapter.
“The Negeri Sembilan DAP committee stands in solidarity and continues to support Loke Siew Fook as the Negeri Sembilan DAP chairman. We unanimously appeal for him to continue leading Negeri Sembilan DAP,” he said.
Cha said Loke’s leadership had been instrumental in strengthening DAP’s position in Negeri Sembilan and described it as the most successful period in the history of the state chapter.
“Starting with just two seats in 2004, Loke’s credible leadership has elevated Negeri Sembilan DAP to a position respected by both friends and opponents,” he said.
He acknowledged that the party was disappointed by its losses in Chennah and Repah but stressed that Loke should not be blamed for the outcome.
“The defeats in Chennah and Repah have certainly disappointed us, but they are not Loke’s fault, and he should not be held responsible for these defeats,” he said.
Cha added that with PH no longer commanding a majority in the state assembly, DAP would require Loke’s leadership to navigate future political challenges, including the 16th General Election.
He said the party’s initial assessment of the election results indicated that PH and DAP candidates continued to receive strong backing from their traditional supporters despite facing campaigns that focused on racial issues.
“Preliminary analysis of the state election results shows that Pakatan Harapan and DAP candidates still received strong support from our loyal supporters, despite facing opponents who played racial issues,” he said.
Cha said he had consulted all members of the Negeri Sembilan DAP committee, who unanimously agreed to urge Loke to remain as state party chairman.
Earlier, Loke said he was considering stepping down from the position after losing the Chennah state seat, adding that he would reassess his role within DAP before making any decision. – August 2, 2026