He said that there are many potential candidates, especially among leaders in Kedah, Perak, Pahang, Johor, and Selangor, who can deliver success for the party in the next general election, Berita Harian reported.

However, Loke said that the party is yet to determine the percentage of Malay candidates to be fielded as the number of seats is still subject to seat negotiations among Pakatan Harapan component parties.

“We must remember that DAP is a multiracial party. Therefore, it is not necessary to only field Chinese candidates to serve Chinese majority seats since both Chinese and Indian leaders can serve Malay-majority seats.

“The same goes for Malay leaders in DAP, who can serve in non-Malay majority seats, because we (DAP) want to foster a new generation of leaders with Malaysian-centric political mindset,” he was quoted as saying while launching the new Perlis DAP office in Padang Besar.

Loke, who is also Seremban MP, said that he will also contest in a state assembly seat that is part of the Seremban constituency.

“I am contesting in a Malay-majority seat since the Seremban constituency is 53% Malay. It is not necessary (for DAP) to field only Malay candidates to contest (in these seats),” he added.

DAP has several Malay elected representatives such as Raub MP Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji, Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Zairil Khir Johari, Tebing Tinggi assemblyman Abdul Aziz Bari, Dusun Tua assemblyman Edry Faizal Eddy Yusuf, Ketari assemblyman Young Syefura Othman, Seri Delima assemblyman Syerleena Abdul Rashid and Damansara assemblyman Jamaliah Jamaluddin. The former assemblyman for Paloh, Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali, is also from DAP.