MELAKA, November 5, 2026 – Democratic Action Party secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the party’s priority in the 16th Melaka state election is to defend the four seats it currently holds, while also trying to win three additional constituencies.
Speaking to reporters after attending the Malam Harapan programme at Pay Fong High School hall on Jalan Tan Chay Yan, Loke, who is also Transport Minister, said the seats DAP is defending are Kota Laksamana, Bandar Hilir, Kesidang and Ayer Keroh. He said the party was also seeking to take Duyong, Gadek and Pengkalan Batu.
“We know there are strong challenges (in Duyong, Gadek and Pengkalan Batu), but we will strive to win those seats,” he said, according to Bernama’s report published on November 5, 2026. Loke did not claim those seats were already secured and described the contests as difficult.
The Malam Harapan event was also attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is Pakatan Harapan chairman, and Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Bernama reported. The gathering formed part of Harapan’s Melaka campaign programme in the state capital.
BN–PN cooperation called a challenge
Asked about Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional cooperating for the Melaka polls, Loke said that arrangement was a challenge Pakatan Harapan had to face. He said that when BN and PN did not contest against each other and asked their supporters to back each other’s candidates, that created strength that would test Harapan.
“Even so, of course we will still work hard because in any election we must do our best to win the people’s support,” he said, as quoted by Bernama. Those remarks are Loke’s campaign assessment as reported by the national news agency and are not predictions or endorsements by Life News Agency.
DAP is contesting as part of Pakatan Harapan’s Melaka line-up. The party’s focus on defending its four held seats while contesting three further areas matches the broader Harapan strategy of concentrating resources on selected constituencies rather than fielding candidates in every seat.
According to Bernama, the Election Commission has set early voting for November 10, 2026 and polling day for November 14, 2026 across Melaka’s 28 state seats, following nominations on October 31, 2026.
Credit : Bernama
Source: Bernama / @bernamadotcom on X
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