BENTONG – Incumbent Bentong MP Wong Tack is no longer a DAP member, following his decision to defend his seat as an independent candidate in the 15th general election (GE15).
Wong confirmed the matter at the nomination centre here today, noting that his retracted membership should come as no surprise since it is “common sense” for a party to sack a member who opts to go independent.
“It is common sense by (party) rules and law that once a member runs as an independent candidate, they are no longer a party member,” he told reporters while waiting for the returning officer to announce the Bentong candidates.
“I have not yet received a letter from DAP (on the matter) but it is not necessary (for the party to send me one).
“I am here to announce that I am no longer with DAP,” he said, adding, however, that he will support the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration if it manages to regain control of Putrajaya.
He also unveiled that his logo for GE15 will be a hoe, which he said symbolises the work he has done in the Bentong constituency.
“We have toiled the soil and cleared the land, now it is time to plant the seed of hope for our children.”
Wong had previously secured the Bentong parliamentary constituency on a DAP ticket, beating out four-term MP Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai of MCA.
The two are now set to clash again, with the addition of DAP’s Young Syefura Othman.
Meanwhile, Liow, who appeared to be sympathetic to Wong’s predicament, wished his once-again opponent the best.
“The people of Bentong were supposed to judge him (after his one term as MP), but DAP openly announced that he is not popular and did not properly do his duties,” he told reporters here.
“Now is the time for Bentong voters to properly analyse him.”
Voters will be casting their ballots on November 19, with Bentong set to see a five-cornered fight including another independent candidate and Perikatan Nasional’s Datuk Roslan Hassan. – The Vibes, November 5, 2022
