DAP Reaffirms Support For Simultaneous Elections To Boost Efficiency, Cut Costs - Loke

SEGAMAT, Nov 2 (Bernama) -- DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook today reaffirmed the party’s support for holding simultaneous federal and state elections, citing it as a step to enhance efficiency and reduce election management costs.

He noted that while the decision to dissolve Parliament rests solely with the Prime Minister, DAP, as a leading party in the government, would offer its perspective to help coordinate the dissolution should simultaneous elections be pursued.

“Whether simultaneous elections will be held, I cannot say… the power to dissolve Parliament rests with the Prime Minister. However, as a leading party, we fully support the idea of conducting them,” he said in his speech at the 2025 Johor DAP Annual Convention at Siang Hai Recreation Centre today.

Loke noted that several states are nearing the end of their terms - Melaka in December 2026, Sarawak in February 2027, and Johor in April 2027 - creating a technical window to align state dissolutions with Parliament should an early dissolution be called.

“If simultaneous elections are to take place, Parliament would need to be dissolved in advance to allow for them,” he said.

Loke said that coordinating elections would yield practical and financial benefits, especially in terms of logistics in Sarawak, where separate elections would incur substantially higher costs.

“Practically speaking, it can help save costs… and we hope this approach can be standardised and consolidated to reduce national expenditure,” he said.

On political cooperation for the upcoming election, he said that while discussions on the collaboration model are still ongoing, DAP will align its strategy with a consistent spirit of struggle.

“Regardless of the arrangements or cooperation models, we will fight wholeheartedly, so there is nothing to worry about,” he said.

He noted that Johor DAP has a solid foundation to uphold, including the five parliamentary seats and 10 state assembly seats the party secured in the previous election.

Loke said negotiations with Pakatan Harapan and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will continue to ensure the most effective formula is crafted to guarantee national stability, strengthen governance, and deliver benefits to the people.

“Above all, our nation must remain stable, our states continue to advance, and we must ensure that the best decisions for the people are effectively implemented,” he said.

Meanwhile, Johor DAP chairman Teo Nie Ching announced in her speech that Wong Shu Qi, DAP assistant national secretary of publicity and Johor DAP deputy chairman, has been appointed as the Election Director for the 16th General Election and the Johor state election.

Teo said the Kluang MP will be supported by Johor DAP secretary Andrew Chen Kah Eng, deputy chairman Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali, and committee member Liow Cai Tung.

“I am confident that under Wong Shu Qi’s leadership, they will develop strategies and ensure we are fully prepared for the upcoming elections,” she added.

-- BERNAMA