Loke said such claims are aimed at disrupting the harmony among its members, but he is unperturbed and will continue to carry out his duties as usual, Bernama reported.

“It’s normal for claims to make the rounds during party elections. The DAP leadership is strong and united, so there’s no need to entertain such them.

“The claims are coming from external sources who have nothing to do with DAP. Some are even envious of DAP and are our political rivals.

“All our leaders are mature. There’s no need to squabble. I myself didn’t know there were camps (in DAP),” he was quoted as saying.

DAP will hold its central executive committee elections on March 16.

Analysts had expected the elections to be among the Pakatan Harapan component’s most intense, with Cabinet posts on the line for the losing candidates.

They said there appeared to be two factions in the CEC elections, with one led by Loke himself, and the other by the party’s national chairman, Lim Guan Eng.

Speculation surrounding the elections intensified after DAP organising secretary Steven Sim was heckled by an aide to Lim at a dinner in Penang. The aide later apologised for his actions against Sim, who is also the newly elected Penang DAP chief.

There were also claims of a move within the party to oust Lim from the CEC.

Four party veterans – Tan Kok Wai, Fong Kui Lun, Phee Boon Poh and M Kula Segaran – have decided not to contest in the elections, saying it was time for new leaders to take over.