Now, DAP chief urges supporters to vote for BN

Anthony Loke has urged supporters to vote for Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates in the six state elections due this year, becoming the most senior leader in the current DAP hierarchy to make such a call.

Loke, the DAP secretary-general, said it was logical for parties in the current coalition government comprising BN and Pakatan Harapan (PH) to support each other.

"When we cooperate, surely component partners in a coalition will support one another.

"It is the same for PH leaders. In the campaign for the coming state elections, we will ask our supporters to vote for BN candidates in areas where PH is not contesting," he told reporters at the Parliament today.

Earlier, Umno's Ahmad Maslan urged party members to vote for DAP candidates in the state polls for the sake of strengthening the "unity government". 

This was followed by DAP publicity secretary Teo Nie Ching urging members to support Umno candidates.

The state elections in six states this year will be held against the backdrop of the coming together of DAP and Umno, two parties that have accused each other of fanning racial sentiments.

While analysts expect DAP to maintain its hold in its traditional seats with large Chinese electorates, Umno will be going to the polls hoping to recuperate from its massive losses in the general election last year.

Umno largely lost its traditional strongholds to Perikatan Nasional headed by Muhyiddin Yassin, in what was seen as a Malay political tsunami rejecting the oldest Malay party.