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KLUANG - DAP's central leadership will not determine the number of seats the party will contest or its list of candidates for the Sarawak state election, leaving the decisions to the state leadership.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook said this was in line with the autonomy granted to DAP Sarawak to determine its own strategies and approach ahead of the election.
He said the state leadership had full authority to make decisions based on Sarawak's political considerations and needs.
"As for the number of seats to be contested and the list of candidates, everything is left to DAP Sarawak to decide.
"In terms of party autonomy, we give DAP Sarawak the authority to make its own decisions, including the strategies to be adopted," he said.
He was speaking at a press conference after officiating the DAP Johor Annual Convention here today.
Also present was DAP vice-chairman Teo Nie Ching.
Anthony said DAP was aware of the significant challenges ahead, adding that every election was a difficult contest for the party.
The Election Commission (EC) has fixed Dec 12 for the 13th Sarawak state election, with nomination day scheduled for Nov 28 and early voting on Dec 8.
In the previous state election, DAP won only two of the 82 State Legislative Assembly (DUN) seats contested, namely Pending and Padungan.
The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), comprising four parties, secured 79 seats, while the remaining seat was won by an Independent candidate.
