BENTONG: Incumbent Bentong MP Wong Tack (pic) is remaining defiant in the face of advice from his comrades not to contest the seat as an Independent, maintaining that he will not back off.
He reaffirmed his decision to go it alone in his bid to retain the seat, which he won in 2018, in his second attempt.
“I am not concerned about my DAP membership being revoked. The last time around, I was invited to join DAP to contest the Bentong seat based on an understanding with Himpunan Hijau (environmental movement).
“This time, I’m going it alone,” he said when met here yesterday.
Wong, previously the movement’s president, announced his intention to contest as an Independent after DAP dropped him and named Young Syefura Othman as its candidate.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke then warned Wong that his membership would be automatically revoked if he went ahead with his plan.
Asked if he would resign from DAP, Wong said “it is unnecessary”.
Wong’s Himpunan Hijau colleague Koh Boon Heng revealed that he had personally advised him not to contest the seat as an Independent.
He said many supporters were concerned about Wong and had tried to “protect” him by soothing his ruffled feathers.
“I am one of those who ran as an Independent previously and I understand how Wong is feeling now. But I hope he will think again.
“Even if he is no longer a political leader, he can continue to fight and work tirelessly for the green movement,” said Koh, a former Pahang DAP vice-chairman who was sacked from the party in 2013 for contesting as an Independent.
Another source close to Wong said many DAP members wanted him to rethink his move. A check showed that Wong’s operations room remained open, although there was a lack of activity.
Meanwhile, Mohd Khalil Abdul Hamid, who retired from the Pahang Syariah Court department, has confirmed that he will contest the Bentong seat as an Independent representing Gagasan Bebas.
Barisan Nasional is fielding former MCA president Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai, who is attempting a comeback in his previous stronghold.
Perikatan Nasional has named Datuk Roslan Hassan as its choice.
