How Anthony Loke’s family restaurant honed his political skills – and spawned a Lunar New Year custom in Malaysia
- Loke is tipped to become the next chief of DAP, Malaysia’s biggest opposition party
- He credits his people skills to his time helping out at his family’s restaurant – which sold yee sang, a festive dish he says was popularised by his Chinese grandfather
When he was 10, former Malaysian transport minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook worked at his father’s Chinese restaurant with his elder siblings after school and during the weekends.
His family spent most of their time at the Hong Seng restaurant in Seremban city, Negeri Sembilan state, where they cooked, served food or prepared meals for the next day.
“I served food to the customers, took orders and washed dishes after school hours and during weekends,” Anthony said. The eatery opened at 8am for breakfast and closed at 11pm after serving supper to the crowds from the cinema next door.
The 44-year-old is a member of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), Malaysia’s largest opposition party with 42 MPs in the 222-seat parliament.
He is touted to become the DAP’s next chief in its central executive committee election on June 20.
If elected as secretary general, Anthony will helm the Chinese-dominated party at a critical moment for both Malaysia and the party, amid political uncertainties and a pandemic that has crippled the economy.
