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Pakatan Harapan (PH) deputy chairman Anthony Loke announced that the coalition possesses the necessary capability and political strength to contest the upcoming state election in Negeri Sembilan independently, without relying on any other political entities.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Loke highlighted that PH successfully governed the state independently from 2018 to 2023, overcoming various challenges during their tenure. He noted that even amid the political upheaval of the Sheraton Move in 2020 at the federal level, Negeri Sembilan's administration remained stable. Furthermore, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the coalition continued its governance despite holding only 20 seats, and the government did not collapse. This, he asserts, demonstrates PH's inherent strength and the public's continued confidence in their leadership.

In the 14th General Election (GE14), PH secured governance in Negeri Sembilan by winning 20 out of the 36 State Legislative Assembly (DUN) seats. Loke, who also serves as the DAP secretary-general, emphasized the importance of internal strength, administrative stability, and a proven track record of service as the foundational pillars for PH to tackle future political challenges effectively.

Loke also addressed the prospect of simultaneous state elections with Johor or Melaka, should these states decide to dissolve their legislative assemblies soon. However, he noted that any decision regarding this would be contingent upon consultations between Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, PH top leadership, and the consent of the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.

In a related development, PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, during his address at the PH Convention 2026 in Johor last week, stated that the coalition is ready to field candidates across all state seats in Johor and Negeri Sembilan if UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) choose to contest in all seats in the forthcoming s tate elections.