DAP Must Now Broaden Beyond Chinese Base Ahead of GE16

PETALING JAYA, Oct 3, 2026 – DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook says the party must rebuild beyond its traditional Chinese support base while holding on to its core electorate as it prepares for the 16th General Election (GE16).

In an interview with The Straits Times, Loke noted that DAP can still command about 80% of Chinese voter support, though “90% is a tall order.” He stressed that the party will never take Chinese backing for granted, but acknowledged that Malaysia’s political reality requires consensus-building within coalitions. “There is no way for DAP to form a government on its own without working with others,” he said.

Beyond Chinese Base

Loke dismissed the sustainability of “third forces” like Muda, which he described as idealistic but short-lived. He also left the door open to potential partners, citing DAP’s cooperation with Umno in 2022 to form the unity government. While he prefers to preserve Pakatan Harapan (PH), he did not rule out DAP contesting alone if circumstances demand.

Reflecting on DAP’s defeat in the Negeri Sembilan election, Loke called it “a blessing in disguise,” adding that the Malay unity narrative pushed by Umno and PAS is unlikely to last.

On his resignation pledge over Najib Razak’s conditional pardon, Loke reiterated: “The moment he returns, I have to quit.”

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DAP, Loke Siew Fook, GE16, coalition politics, Najib Razak

Beyond Chinese Base