KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 3): DAP secretary general Anthony Loke Siew Fook has announced his resignation as the party's Negeri Sembilan chief, taking responsibility for the party's poor performance in the recently concluded state election.
However, Loke will continue to serve as DAP secretary general after receiving unanimous backing from the party's central executive committee (CEC).
WATCH: Loke quits as Negeri Sembilan DAP chief
Speaking to reporters after the CEC meeting on Monday night, Loke said his decision to relinquish the Negeri Sembilan leadership was a personal choice, adding that it was time to pass the baton to a new leader after helming the state party for 22 years.
The Negeri Sembilan DAP state committee would convene a meeting soon to decide on his successor, he said.
"This is my decision, my personal decision and my personal wish. I think I should pass the baton to someone else after 22 years leading DAP Negeri Sembilan," he said.
Loke said the move was also to take responsibility for the party's inability to defend the Chennah (N.01) and Repah (N.36) state seats in the election.
In the Negeri Sembilan election, Loke was defeated by MCA Youth chief Siow Kong Choon in Chennah by 688 votes, with a winning margin of 6.4 percentage points.
Chennah was one of two seats DAP failed to retain. The other was Repah, where DAP lost to MCA by 444 votes, with a margin of 2.3 percentage points. DAP held 11 seats prior to the election.
Nevertheless, it remained as the second-largest party in the 36-member state assembly, with nine seats held.
On the state party leadership, Loke said there would be no fresh election as DAP's constitution allows a new chairman to be appointed from among existing state committee members.
"I will focus on my role as party secretary general, with the support and solidarity of the entire CEC. I feel humbled by the support, and it is my responsibility to take up this challenge and lead the party forward," he said.
No regrets over Chennah loss
Meanwhile, Loke said he had no regrets contesting Chennah, describing the campaign as the toughest in his electoral career.
"As a leader and politician, I think I have shown courage and set an example that even though it was a tough seat, we took up the challenge," he said.
Loke said he faced sustained personal attacks during the campaign, including what he described as unfounded allegations that he wanted to wrest control of the Negeri Sembilan government from the Malay political establishment.
He said such accusations contributed to anti-DAP sentiment among Malay voters.
WATCH: No regrets over Chennah loss, says Loke
Despite the challenges, Loke said he and his team fought until the final moment, securing more than 47% of the vote, including an estimated 20% to 25% support from Malay voters.
Although he lost the seat by 688 votes, Loke said he accepted the outcome as part of the democratic process.
"But that is the democratic process. We respect that. There is no regret in fighting. We die standing," he said.