JEMPOL: DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook today dismissed suggestions that he could be a candidate for Negeri Sembilan menteri besar, saying they were made with malicious intent.
He said the state constitution clearly states that only a Malay Muslim assemblyman is eligible to hold the top post.
“That is malicious talk from our opponents. The requirements for the Negeri Sembilan menteri besar are very clear in the state constitution, which states that the person must be a Malay-Muslim assemblyman.
“I do not meet those requirements,” he told reporters after inspecting the Bahau railway station rehabilitation and upgrading project.
Loke stressed that Pakatan Harapan (PH) currently has only one candidate for menteri besar if the coalition is given the mandate to continue governing Negeri Sembilan.
“Our menteri besar candidate is only one person: Tok Min,” he said, referring to incumbent menteri besar Aminuddin Harun.
He was responding to remarks by Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, who asked yesterday who PH’s menteri besar candidate would be if Aminuddin loses the contest for Linggi, which he described as a Barisan Nasional (BN) stronghold.
“Who else would it be if not Loke from DAP? Do the people here want a menteri besar from DAP or not?” Asyraf said.
Asyraf added that BN had a long list of qualified candidates who could be considered for the menteri besar’s post if it wins the Negeri Sembilan election.
He also said BN had a combination of experienced leaders and qualified new faces, including those with experience governing the state.
