KUALA LUMPUR — DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has apologised to party delegates over his defeat in the Chennah state seat in the recent Negeri Sembilan election, admitting that the party had fallen short in securing stronger backing from Malay and indigenous voters.
Speaking at the DAP National Congress 2026 today, Loke said he contested the challenging seat not for personal victory, but to prove that DAP could gain acceptance across different communities.
“I apologise to the representatives for this defeat in Dun Chennah."
“My biggest hope in the election was not for my personal victory, but for the victory of my party," he said.
Loke said his intention was to demonstrate that DAP could attract support from various groups, including Malay voters who made up the majority of the electorate.
“Therefore, I admit that this mission is not successful,” he acknowledged.
He conceded that the party had not managed to secure sufficient support from Malay voters, despite receiving between 20 and 25 per cent backing, while support among indigenous voters remained limited.
“This is a big challenge for the DAP party,” he said, adding that the party must find solutions to overcome the issue if it wants to establish itself as a truly multiracial political force.
However, Loke stressed that the setback should not force DAP to abandon its long-standing commitment to a multiracial agenda.
“Therefore, I hope and I want to insist that the defeat in Dun Chennah and the previous elections should not be an obstacle for us to move forward,” he said.
He reminded party members that DAP’s six-decade political journey had been marked by numerous defeats, but the party had continued to persevere.
“There are winners and losers in the elections. We have been in the elections for 60 years. We have faced many defeats at the beginning of our struggle. But we do not give up and we continue to move forward,” he stressed.
Loke said DAP must remain committed to its goal of becoming a party accepted by Malaysians regardless of background.
“As long as we do not give up, the future of DAP will be accepted by the Malaysian people,” he added.
He described the party’s multiracial approach as a principle that cannot be compromised, saying DAP must continue striving to represent all Malaysians.
“No matter how hard it is, DAP must stick to the multi-ethnic path. This is irrevocable,” he said.
The remarks came as DAP delegates are set to decide the party’s future direction in the government during today’s congress. — August 16, 2026
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