DAP not seeking unity govt in Johor, won't beg for posts - Loke

DAP will maintain its position of not pushing for a coalition government to be formed in Johor, said the party’s secretary-general, Anthony Loke.

He said he had already told outgoing Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong last year not to seek such an agenda and that this position has not changed.

Speaking at the Johor DAP convention today, Loke (above) said DAP accepts the reality that BN had won the last Johor state election and that the party was comfortable with its role as a check and balance in the state legislature.

The only difference, he said, is that after BN and Pakatan Harapan joined forces at the federal level, DAP also supported the state government in Johor.

“Hence, I hope the polemic about a unity government in Johor need not arise.

“DAP has not and will not beg for government positions.

“If we want government positions, we will fight and win (in the next election), then we take positions,” he said.

He added that the central leadership will determine whether cooperation with BN occurs and what shape such cooperation will take.

DAP has 10 state seats in Johor.

Source of friction

The issue of a coalition government arose in the lead-up to and in the aftermath of the Mahkota by-election.

The main Harapan proponent for a coalition government in Johor was Amanah, which has one state seat.

The push had caused friction between BN and Harapan, with some BN leaders implying that a coalition government in Johor was not workable because DAP allegedly did not succeed in getting high Chinese voter turnout in Mahkota.

Loke said today that those who want government posts in Johor should be patient and that those who are patient would be rewarded.

He also stressed that he has a good relationship with Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi, while two Johor DAP leaders - Liew and Teo Nie Ching - also played major roles in their duties as the deputy ministers of investment, trade and industry, and communications respectively.

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