[UPDATED] Dropped by DAP, Wong Tack to contest as independent in Bentong

KUALA LUMPUR – Bentong incumbent Wong Tack has pledged to defend his seat as an independent candidate, after his party DAP axed him in favour of Young Syefura Othman.

The one-term lawmaker said he remains committed to continue serving the constituents there and will now be contesting under the “people’s ticket”.

“We are here to build a platform for the real people’s power, to plant the seed of hope, not just in Bentong but for the nation,” he said when addressing his supporters today in a speech which was also streamed live on his Facebook page.

In a separate press conference earlier today, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke had announced that Young Syefura will be fielded to contest in Bentong, where she is likely to take on former MCA president Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai. 

“This is a move to break racial politics. Young Syefura will be the first female Malay MP (for Bentong) if she is elected as the MP. I have full confidence in her as she has a good track record as the Ketari assemblyman,” Loke had said.

According to Loke, Wong, who is an environmental activist, was given the opportunity to contest in Cameron Highlands, but the latter rejected the offer.

Prior to the 2018 general election, Bentong had been an MCA stronghold, with Liow himself winning the seat four consecutive times since 1999, before he lost the seat to Wong by just more than 2,000 votes.

According to Wong, he was told by the party that the decision to drop him as a candidate in Bentong was supposedly because he no longer fit into DAP’s grand strategy for the coming election.

He added that today’s announcement goes against the party’s own decision in 2013 when it decided to name him as candidate in the constituency due to his advocacy for the environment.

Previously, Wong, who used to lead the Himpunan Hijau movement, failed to unseat Liow in 2013, before securing victory in the next election.

“The announcement of my candidacy for Bentong was made on March 12, 2013 by then secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who said DAP has reached an understanding with Himpunan Hijau whereby the chairman, Wong, will stand as candidate for Bentong under DAP’s ticket.”

He said that in his candidacy announcement then, Lim had also acknowledged that Wong would bring about a positive impact to the then Pakatan Rakyat coalition and better highlight his environmental campaigning in Malaysia.

“Today, the DAP has decided to end this understanding. I wish to make clear that the people decide their own path and destiny, the choice is ours.

“We have no interest in playing political games. The people are not pawns in a game of chess. Over the past four years, I have diligently carried out my duties as a lawmaker. I remain committed to continue serving my people.” – The Vibes, October 26, 2022