DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke says incumbents who are not re-nominated to defend their seats at the upcoming state elections should accept the party's decision and make way for new faces to contest.

Loke said that in Penang, DAP had been governing for three terms. He said there was a need to introduce new candidates as part of the party's transition plan for the future.

"I hope once we finalise our candidates list, everyone will accept it including incumbents who will not return. There are incumbents that will not be renominated again.

"This is not a question of dropping them, but of renewing with younger blood in the line-up," he told reporters after attending a Penang DAP fundraising dinner in George Town last night.

Also present was DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

Loke, who is the transport minister, said Penang DAP was expected to give its proposed candidates list in a few days, which would then be deliberated and decided by a five-man committee which includes him.

The Penang state assembly has 40 seats. Prior to its dissolution late last month, DAP held 19, winning every seat it contested between 2013 and 2018.

When asked about their plan to capture the Malay vote, Loke said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had been focusing on this with his recent work visits to Kedah and Penang.

"In the next few weeks, he will still be spending more time to touch base with the Malay community. A lot of assurance needed to be given to the Malay community that they are not losing anything just because DAP is in this coalition.

"The aim and spirit of the unity government is to govern this country in a stable and peaceful manner, so that Malaysia can be developed and the people can live prosperous lives," he added.