Loke downplays criticisms over Penang candidates selection

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has downplayed recent criticisms by party leaders over the selection of candidates for the Penang state polls, saying “it’s normal”.

“Issues on candidates… is a normal matter.

“They (the leaders) will give their views and I will focus on our work on growing the nation’s economy and to bring about prosperity for the people.

“Let’s focus on the Madani economy and on positive matters,” he told reporters after the launch of “Madani Economy: Empowering the People” programme on Thursday (July 27).

The programme, which outlines the framework of the economic plans in the future, was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Securities Commissions Malaysia headquarters here.

On July 25, DAP officially announced the names of 19 candidates, including seven new faces, who will be fielded in the Penang state polls on Aug 12.

The next day, incumbent Bagan Dalam assemblyman M. Satees, who was dropped from the list, made headlines after claiming that the party was being dictated by one person and there was no democracy.