DAP Secretary-General Loke Siew Fook has called on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to provide clarity on how the unity government should approach cooperation ahead of upcoming elections.
In an interview with Malaysiakini, Loke emphasised the inconsistency of parties working together in Parliament while contesting against one another in state assemblies. He said Pakatan Harapan (PH), chaired by Anwar, needs to make a prompt decision on whether to contest elections jointly or adopt a “free-for-all” approach.
“We need to decide on the form of cooperation – either we contest together and allocate parliamentary and state seats systematically, or we fight independently,” Loke said. “PH cannot be ambiguous. If we choose to cooperate, we must present a united front; if not, then let it be a free-for-all. There must be a clear decision.”
He cited previous examples where unity government allies, such as Barisan Nasional and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, clashed in state elections despite being partners at the federal level. Loke also noted that coordinating federal and state elections could make seat negotiations easier and avoid intra-government competition.
“The Perikatan Nasional government collapsed partly because they governed together federally but fought each other in state polls, such as in Melaka, Johor and Sabah. How can cooperation at the federal level be sustained under such circumstances?” he asked.
Loke recalled that until 2021, state elections in Peninsular Malaysia were often held concurrently with general elections, saving costs and aligning terms. The 15th general election took place on Nov 19, 2022, but six state polls were delayed to Aug 12, 2023, due to concerns over year-end floods. He pointed out that the Melaka state assembly will dissolve by December, while Sarawak’s government term ends on Feb 14 next year, triggering the requirement for a state election within 60 days.
He concluded that without a unified approach, federal and state elections held separately could force unity government parties into direct contests against each other, potentially undermining cooperation within the government.
