Kalah Melaka bukan alasan PH berputus asa, kata Loke

DAP's senior vice-president Loke Siew Fook urged Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders not to lose hope after the party's narrow victory in the Melaka PRN election. Despite winning just four out of 24 contested seats, the party must remain united and work to improve its performance in the 16th general election (PRU16), Loke said during the DAP Johor Convention in Kluang.

The party's previous wins included five seats in the 2021 PRN and all 24 seats in the 2021 general election. The Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) parties now control 24 out of 28 parliamentary seats in the Dewan Negara, with a two-thirds majority. Loke emphasized that political fortunes can fluctuate, but supporters must remain confident and continue the coalition's fight for a better nation.

He called on DAP and PH to convince voters, especially the youth, of the importance of supporting the coalition in upcoming elections, particularly after the decline in voter turnout and support at the Melaka and Negeri Sembilan PRNs. The main challenge for PH is increasing voter turnout, especially among Malay supporters, who may also support the party.

Loke stressed the need for DAP and PH to work harder to gain public support in PRU16 by demonstrating that the ruling government, led by PH, remains committed to reform and positive change. PH should also showcase the coalition's pro-progress politics, diversity, and national unity, or face opposition from BN and PN, which favor regressive and divisive policies, especially PAS, which does not promote unity and instead incites ethnic sentiments.