PH-BN pact did well at state polls despite what critics say, says Loke

SEREMBAN: Critics and political analysts are free to claim that Perikatan Nasional won more seats in the recent elections in six states because voters, especially the Malays, could not accept the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional pact, says Anthony Loke.

The DAP secretary-general, however, said as far as he was concerned the pact performed well, especially in Negri Sembilan where it managed to win 31 of the 36 seats contested.

“In Negri Sembilan, we had a big victory with a comfortable majority and this showed the model worked well.

“We also managed to form governments in Selangor and Penang,” he said.

Loke said it was up to political analysts, for example, to make their own evaluations but the outcome in the state polls were there for all to see.

“For us, now is the time to deliver. It is up to political analysts to say who was successful or who failed (in the polls),” he added.

Perikatan won 146 of the 245 seats contested in the elections in Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Selangor, Penang and Negri Sembilan.

Separately, Loke who won the Chennah seat for a third term urged all parties in Negri Sembilan to obey a decree by Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir to prevent any attempt to destablise the state government.

Loke said the Yang di-Pertuan Besar had made it clear that he did not wish to see a repeat of an attempt to destabilise the previous state government.

“Tuanku’s advice is clear as he did not wish to see any move to undermine the state government as happened after the Sheraton Move.

“This is a good reminder and all of us, as responsible assemblymen, should abide by this,” he said when met at an event at the Terminal One Bus station here.

Loke, who is also Seremban MP, was asked to respond to Tuanku Muhriz’s address at the swearing in of the Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar at Istana Besar Seri Menanti on Monday (Aug 14).

The state ruler, in his address at the swearing in of Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said there were parties who had tried to destabilise the state government during its last term without any reasonable reason but motivated by personal interests.

“Be aware that this kind of action does not bring any good, and in fact it causes the state administration to be affected and the people become victims.

“I remind all elected representatives that you have been entrusted by the people to voice all their problems and needs in formulating and implementing a policy or decision.

“Therefore, your focus and priority is on the interests and services for the people of this state.

“This is because your main loyalty is to the state, not to any political party or personal needs,” the ruler said.

In Saturday’s (Aug 12) state election, the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional pact won 31 of the 36 seats contested. Perikatan Nasional won the remaining five.