Anthony Loke: We die standing

Following a loss in Chennah, Anthony Loke has resigned as DAP’s Negeri Sembilan chairman after 22 years while retaining his role as national secretary-general ahead of a crucial party vote on its future in Malaysia's unity government.

KUALA LUMPUR: Anthony Loke has stepped down as Negeri Sembilan DAP chairman following his defeat in the state election on Aug 1.

Loke informed the media of his decision after the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) met to discuss the state polls and the future of its leaders within the unity government.

Loke lost the Chennah state seat to Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Siow Kong Choon, who secured 5,726 votes to Loke’s 5,038. Loke insisted the resignation was a personal decision, despite the CEC urging him to stay on. He will, however, remain as DAP secretary-general.

Here’s what Loke said at his first press conference following the Negeri Sembilan results:

“I would like to thank the (CEC) members for the decision to allow me to continue with my responsibility as DAP secretary-general. I have expressed my intention to quit as Negeri Sembilan chairman. I have been in the role for 22 years. It is time for me to step down as state chairman and allow the state leadership to train and select someone from the existing committee.

I will call a meeting soon so that the Negeri Sembilan committee can be restructured, and a new state chairman found. This is the best time for a new chairman to be elected. I am proud that DAP Negeri Sembilan remains strong. When I started, we had only won two seats (in Negeri Sembilan) — up from zero — and we have built the party to where it is today.

I feel called upon to resign the state chairmanship. It is my personal wish to pass the baton to someone else.

Regarding my role as party secretary-general, with the support and solidarity of the entire CEC, I feel humbled and will continue to face the challenge of leading the party.

As you are well aware, DAP’s national conference is on Aug 16. A motion will be tabled at the conference to determine whether DAP remains in the government or not. We leave it to the wisdom of the delegates, numbering over 4,000 people.

We (CEC) discussed our participation in government, but it is for the delegates to decide. They will vote via secret ballot. There were various views within the CEC, but I do not want to influence the delegates’ thinking. We uphold internal democracy. Although I am secretary-general and Gobind Singh (Deo) is the national chairman, we will base our decision on the delegates’ mandate.

The primary direction will be set by the party delegates, and we will stand guided by their decision. After Aug 16, things will be clearer regarding whether we stay and continue to fight in government, or step out.

There is no such thing as regret over standing in Negeri Sembilan. It was a tough seat. I fought a hard campaign, the toughest in my 22 years. The attacks against me during the campaign … claims that I wanted to seize power from the establishment or become Menteri Besar, were slanderous. I fought against those lies and accusations until the very last moment. We die standing.”