REMBAU, July 15 — Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and DAP secretary- general Anthony Loke Siew Fook have expressed their desire to defend their respective state seats in Negeri Sembilan in the state elections in six states next month.

Mohamad is the incumbent for the Rantau seat and Loke the incumbent for Chennah.

In separate functions today, Mohamad, who is also the Member of Parliament for Rembau, said he is ready to make way for a new face but so far no other candidate wanted to contest the seat he had won since the 2004 General Election (GE).

"Many want me to contest in the Rantau seat, many want me to represent them. I will make a decision before July 29, as of today no one wants to, I want to highlight a new face, but they themselves refuse,” he told reporters after officiating the Rembau parliamentary constituency outh Career Carnival at the Dewan Agora Rembau here today.

Meanwhile, Loke also voiced his intention to defend the Chennah seat in this election based on the results of a survey among voters conducted in the area.

"After considering the current political scenario and taking consideration local sentiments, I plan to continue defending the Chennah seat.

"I have conducted a study and survey among Chennah local voters. The survey results have encouraged me to continue to serve the people,” he told reporters in Pekan Titi, Jelebu.

Loke said through the survey, high support for him was from the Chinese community at 90 per cent while it was more than 50 per cent from the Malay community in Chennah.

The Seremban Member of Parliament is a two-term assemblyman for Chennah, having won it in GE13 (2013) and GE14 (2018).

Selangor, Kedah, Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu and Negeri Sembilan will go to the polls on August 12, with nominations set for July 29 and early voting on August 8. — Bernama