DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook today confirmed he will be defending the Seremban parliamentary seat in the general election (GE) while Negri Sembilan DAP secretary Cha Kee Sun will defend Rasah. 

Loke said Negri Sembilan DAP had finalised candidacy and machinery matters early, with preparations beginning two weeks before nomination day. 

“We are ready to defend Seremban and Rasah. We not only want to win both seats, but we are also duty-bound to help our partners defend Port Dickson, Tampin and (capture) Kuala Pilah,” he said at the opening of the Rasah parliamentary operations room in Seremban today. 

Loke has held the Seremban seat for two terms and in the last GE, he won with a 30,694-vote majority against Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Chong Sin Woon and PAS’ Shariffuddin Ahmad. 

Cha, meanwhile, defeated BN’s Ng Kian Nam, Mohd Khairil Anuar Mohd Wafa of PAS and David Dass of the People’s Alternative Party in the last GE, with a 46,867-vote majority.

On Pakatan Harapan chairman Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement that Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun will be the coalition’s Port Dickson parliamentary candidate, Loke said the Negri Sembilan menteri besar is the right choice to succeed Anwar. 

On Thursday, Anwar confirmed that he will be contesting the Tambun parliamentary seat in Perak. 

The Election Commission has set November 19 for polling, with nomination on November 5 and early voting on November 15. – Bernama, October 22, 2022.