No immediate need for Loke to resign as Negeri Sembilan chief, says Chow

Pemimpin DAP, Chow Kon Yeow, kata ahli parti perlu digembleng susulan kekalahan pada PRN Negeri Sembilan. (Gambar Bernama)GEORGE TOWN: Pemimpin DAP menegaskan tiada keperluan segera untuk Loke Siew Fook melepaskan jawatan pengerusi DAP Negeri Sembilan, susulan kekalahan pada PRN Negeri Sembilan.Ahli Jawatankuasa Tertinggi Pusat DAP, Chow Kon Yeow, berkata Loke harus beri tumpuan kepada menggembleng ahli DAP susulan kekalahan malam ini."Tiada keperluan untuk mempertimbangkan dengan segera (peletakan jawatan). Biar keadaan reda selama beberapa hari sebelum membuat sebarang keputusan,” katanya kepada pemberita ketika ditemui di Festival George Town.Terdahulu, Loke berkata beliau akan mempertimbangkan untuk meletakkan jawatan sebagai pengerusi DAP Negeri Sembilan selepas kalah di Chennah.

Beliau juga setiausaha agung DAP.Chow berkata Chennah merupakan kawasan yang sukar untuk dipertahankan kerana ia kerusi campuran. Faktor lain ialah kerjasama antara Barisan Nasional dan Perikatan Nasional, yang menyaksikan penyokong PN menyokong calon BN, tambahnya.Katanya lagi, pendekatan berunsurkan kaum dan agama dalam kempen PRN menjadikan persaingan lebih mencabar buat Loke.Loke tewas di Chennah kepada calon MCA, Siow Kong Choon, dengan majoriti 688 undi, berdasarkan keputusan rasmi. Siow memperoleh 5,726 undi, manakala Loke mendapat 5,038 undi.

DAP central executive committee member Chow Kon Yeow said the campaign had taken on a racial and religious tone, making the contest even more challenging for Loke Siew Fook. (Bernama pic)GEORGE TOWN: There is no immediate need for Loke Siew Fook to step down as Negeri Sembilan DAP chairman following the party’s defeat in the state election, says Chow Kon Yeow.Chow, who is a DAP central executive committee member, said Loke should first focus on rallying party members following tonight’s setback.“There is no need to consider (resigning) immediately. Let things settle down for a few days before making any decision,” he told reporters after the opening of the George Town Festival.Loke, who is also DAP secretary-general, had said he would consider stepping down as the party’s Negeri Sembilan chairman after losing his Chennah seat.Chow said Chennah had been a difficult constituency to defend as it was a mixed seat.Another factor was Barisan Nasional’s decision to forge a pact with Perikatan Nasional, which led to PN supporters backing BN’s candidate, he said.Chow also said the campaign had taken on a racial and religious tone, making the contest even more challenging for Loke.Loke lost Chennah to MCA’s Siow Kong Choon by 450 votes, according to unofficial results.

Siow received 4,608 votes, or 52.57%, while Loke polled 4,158 votes.