{
  "id": 16577908,
  "title": "Melaka polls: DAP skips Bemban due to slim chances of winning, says Loke",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/melaka-polls-dap-skips-bemban-due-to-slim-chances-of-winning-says-loke",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-26T08:34:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1563960/melaka-polls-dap-skips-bemban-due-slim-chances-winning-says-loke"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Melaka: DAP opts out of Bemban constituency in upcoming election due to perceived low odds of victory, according to DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook. The strategic move aims to concentrate resources on seven seats where the party believes it has a higher likelihood of success. Loeck emphasized that each contested seat is evaluated independently, rather than based on the party's historical performance in specific areas. Bemban is the sole constituency where DAP placed third in the previous election, whereas the party secured second place in all other contests it did not win. During a press conference following a financial assistance presentation for various drivers, Loeck explained that DAP aims to avoid spreading its resources too thinly across numerous constituencies. By focusing their efforts on a limited number of winnable seats, the party aims to maximize its impact. This decision, deemed technical and strategic by the party, involves defending four of the seven contested seats, which DAP currently holds. While acknowledging occasional disagreements within a political party regarding seat allocation and candidate selection, Loeck stated that such decisions are ultimately made by the party's leadership after careful consideration of various factors.",
  "summary": "MELAKA: DAP has decided not to contest the Bemban seat in the Melaka election after assessing that its chances of winning were slim.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Lee urges EC, MACC to probe Loke’s RM1,000 aid for Melaka taxi drivers",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/lee-urges-ec-macc-to-probe-lokes-rm1-000-aid-for-melaka-taxi-drivers-16571202",
        "published": "2026-10-26T05:18:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "RM1,000 aid for taxi drivers nationwide, not just in Melaka – Anthony Loke",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/rm1-000-aid-for-taxi-drivers-nationwide-not-just-in-melaka-anthony",
        "published": "2026-10-26T05:56:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Loke says RM1,000 driver aid not a Melaka poll sweetener, rollout continues nationwide",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/loke-says-rm1-000-driver-aid-not-a-melaka-poll-sweetener-rollout",
        "published": "2026-10-26T06:25:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}