With the Negeri Sembilan state assembly dissolved on June 5 and elections required within 60 days, DAP will retain more than half of its incumbent representatives as candidates in the upcoming polls.
Anthony Loke, DAP secretary-general and Negeri Sembilan DAP chairman, was quoted by Bernama and Malay Mail as saying that the candidate list is in its final stages. An announcement will be made within the next few days.
The candidate list will be announced early to give them time to make preparations and familiarise themselves with the constituencies they will contest, particularly the new candidates, Loke told reporters after launching the Lobak Electronic Screen at Dataran Lobak in Seremban.
DAP intends to field several new faces while defending the 11 seats it won in the 2023 state election. In that election, Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) formed the state government after securing 31 of the 36 assembly seats. PH won 17 seats while BN secured 14, with Perikatan Nasional taking the remaining five.
Loke said any elected representative who is replaced must assist the new candidate to ensure victory. He had previously confirmed he would defend the Chennah seat.
On Johor, Loke said DAP's state chapter there has yet to submit its full list of candidates. Johor dissolved its assembly on June 1, becoming the first state to trigger polls.
The candidate strategy announcement comes as the political landscape shifts, with PAS having ended its electoral cooperation with Bersatu, creating uncertainty over opposition seat allocations and the potential for multi-cornered contests in both states.
Sources: Bernama, Malay Mail
