Loke says he is target of smear campaign in runup to Negeri Sembilan polls

DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook, who is defending Chennah in Saturday's Negeri Sembilan election, said baseless claims are being spread in villages to frighten Malay voters.JELEBU: DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook says he has been the target of a smear campaign during the Negeri Sembilan polls campaign, including claims that he would be appointed menteri besar if Pakatan Harapan wins.Loke, who is defending the Chennah seat for PH, said baseless claims were spread in villages to frighten Malay voters, including allegations that the Malays would lose their political power if the coalition won Saturday’s election.“Over the past few weeks, I have been the target of various accusations and slander that have been widely spread in the villages.“I have also been accused of interfering with the adat system and trying to undermine the royal institution, but we remain patient,” he said at a tea event with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Simpang Durian today.During the campaign, Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki questioned whether Loke would be nominated as PH’s menteri besar candidate if Aminuddin Harun, the previous menteri besar, lost in the state election, and whether the people would accept such a nomination.Loke subsequently dismissed the claim as “malicious talk by political opponents”, saying PH had only one candidate for the post - Aminuddin.He also said he was not eligible to become menteri besar as the state constitution requires the post to be held by a Malay Muslim assemblyman. Calon PH DUN Chennah pada PRN Negeri Sembilan Loke Siew Fook berkata, pelbagai dakwaan tidak berasas mengenainya disebarkan di kampung-kampung bagi menakutkan pengundi Melayu.JELEBU: Setiausaha Agung DAP Loke Siew Fook mendakwa menjadi sasaran pelbagai fitnah sepanjang tempoh kempen PRN Negeri Sembilan, termasuk dakwaan beliau akan dilantik sebagai menteri besar jika Pakatan Harapan (PH) menang.Calon PH bagi DUN Chennah itu berkata, pelbagai dakwaan tidak berasas disebarkan di kampung-kampung bagi menakutkan pengundi Melayu, termasuk kononnya orang Melayu akan hilang kuasa jika PH menang pada PRN 1 Ogos nanti.Antara fitnah lain yang disebarkan, menurutnya, termasuk bahawa beliau cuba mengganggu sistem adat dan institusi diraja di negeri itu."Beberapa minggu ini, memang saya menjadi sasaran pelbagai tohmahan dan fitnah yang disebarkan secara meluas di kampung-kampung."Saya juga dituduh mengganggu sistem adat dan cuba menggugat institusi diraja ... namun kita tetap bersabar," katanya ketika berucap pada Majlis Minum Petang Bersama-Sama PMX DUN Chennah di Simpang Durian.Terdahulu, media melaporkan Setiausaha Agung Umno Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki mempersoalkan sama ada Loke akan dicalonkan sebagai menteri besar PH di Negeri Sembilan jika Aminuddin Harun tewas pada PRN kali ini, dan sama ada pencalonan itu diterima oleh rakyat.Loke kemudian menyangkal dakwaan yang disifatkannya sebagai 'cakap-cakap jahat pihak lawan' dengan berkata, PH hanya mempunyai seorang calon menteri besar Negeri Sembilan, iaitu Aminuddin.Jelasnya, memandangkan Undang-Undang Tubuh Negeri memandatkan menteri besar mestilah Adun Melayu beragama Islam, beliau tidak layak menyandang jawatan itu.