PETALING JAYA: Newly appointed Negeri Sembilan DAP chairman J Arul Kumar says the party will return to its roots at the community level as it adjusts to life in the opposition following its setback in the Aug 1 state election.
Arul, 41, took over from Loke Siew Fook, who stepped down after leading the state chapter for 22 years.
The former state DAP vice-chairman said the party’s immediate priority was to rebuild public confidence, including in Repah and Chennah, the two seats it lost in the state polls.
“Our service must show that we can perform. We will start immediately,” he told FMT.
On Aug 3, Loke, the DAP secretary-general, announced that he would resign as state chief to take responsibility for the party losing two seats in the state polls, including Chennah, which the DAP supremo had represented for three terms.
Loke had led Negeri Sembilan DAP since 2002, increasing its representation from two state seats in 2004 to 11 in the 2023 state election.
Arul, who holds a degree in business administration, said DAP served Negeri Sembilan well during its time in the opposition and had earned the confidence of the people.
“We must use this platform well to serve the people better and rebuild their confidence in us,” said the former teacher, who entered politics in 2010 after four years in the profession.
His first task will be to meet DAP’s 140 branches and its assemblymen to discuss how the party can strengthen its presence on the ground and continue pushing for policies that benefit the public.
Arul, who has represented Nilai for four terms since 2013, also said he wanted to preserve the unity cultivated under Loke’s leadership.
“That is one of our strengths compared with other parties. When it comes to serving the people, we move with one voice and as one party,” he said.
He said policies and projects that had benefited Negeri Sembilan should be retained, while DAP would scrutinise the government and speak up where necessary.
“We are now the opposition, so we will play our role in providing checks and balances. But good policies must continue,” he said.
Arul said he and Loke would meet Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Ismail Lasim this week to discuss how both sides could work together where their interests aligned.
Arul, who served with Ismail in the previous state administration, said their personal relationship had not changed simply because they were now on opposite sides of the political divide.
“Where we can cooperate for the people, we will cooperate, but the people’s interests must come first. We are friends, but we will play our role as a check and balance.”
