Loke: Umno-PAS handling of N Sembilan royal dispute could undermine Malay unity momentum

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has expressed confidence that Umno and PAS will be unable to sustain their Malay-Muslim unity narrative amid the ongoing royal dispute in Negeri Sembilan.

He said the two parties gave voters the impression that they could resolve the royal impasse by forming a strong state government.

Speaking to the Straits Times, Loke described Pakatan Harapan’s defeat in the August Negeri Sembilan polls, which saw him lose the Chennah seat he had held for three terms, as a “blessing in disguise”.

“What decision did they make? They dethroned the state ruler (Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir).

“Right now, Malays elsewhere in the entire country can see that an Umno-PAS government did this. So that’s why I said DAP is being spared this burden right now.

“In a way, the Malay unity momentum cannot necessarily be sustained in terms of electoral trends,” he opined.

READ MORE: 'Caught in the wave': How BN-PN's 'Malay unity' push undercut Bersatu, boosted Berjasa in Nilai

Royal imbroglio

BN and Perikatan Nasional took control of the 36-seat Negeri Sembilan assembly after the Aug 1 election via an electoral pact, winning 25 seats against Harapan's 11.

The royal and administrative dispute in the state stemmed from an April 19 proclamation recognising Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as Yang di-Pertuan Besar in place of Tuanku Muhriz (above).

However, the state secretary’s office has refused to gazette or implement the proclamation, citing the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ view that it was invalid.

The Umno-led state government has backed Tunku Nadzaruddin, while the state secretary has refused to gazette his purported ascension, leading to a deadlock.

READ MORE: KINIGUIDE | Negeri Sembilan royal rumble: What's going on?

Never say never

Commenting further, Loke said DAP is not ruling out potential cooperation with other parties, but any partnerships will revolve around its principles and the nation’s best interests.

“I don’t close my doors to anyone. I hold this belief that we have come to a point that politics has to be agile,” he added.

Neither has he dismissed the possibility of DAP heading into the next general election solo instead of as a Harapan component party.

“As much as possible, I want to preserve the Harapan coalition.

“But again, our electoral strategy needs to be reviewed from time to time. What is the best strategy - not only for DAP, but for our partners as well?

“I can only answer that when Parliament is dissolved,” he stated.

He stressed that DAP would not take Chinese support for granted, but acknowledged that coalition politics meant it could not fully implement its own agenda.

Due to the “reality” of Malaysian politics, he said there is “no way” for DAP to form a government without strategic political partnerships.

“This is a reality we must accept: we can only push as far as possible, relying on objective and persuasive arguments to get things done within the system,” he added.

‘Third forces not viable’

When asked about Bersama, Loke said that third forces and idealistic parties are generally unable to maintain momentum in Malaysian politics, citing Muda as an example.

He said Muda had attracted young, professional candidates and promoted idealistic goals, but had since faded from prominence.

In May, former PKR leaders Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad quit their former party and vacated their parliamentary seats to take over Bersama.

The duo resigned as minister last year after losing their party positions in the PKR election.

They were later joined in Bersama by former Subang MP Wong Chen, who left PKR following alleged internal disputes.

N Sembilan chieftains list alleged breaches behind Tuanku Muhriz's removal

N Sembilan royal imbroglio stalls BN-PN bid to reclaim Harapan allocations?

Under fire, N Sembilan Umno hits back at ex-MB, demands release of critical meeting minutes

DAP leaders: Declassify Pardons Board meeting minutes on Najib house arrest

COMMENT | Loke falls on his sword

Yeoh says DAP CEC decision final when asked if felt pressured to quit over Najib house arrest