GE15: Wong Tack to contest as independent in Bentong
KAUNTAN - Former Bentong MP Wong Tack has announced that he will contest as an independent in the seat after he was dropped as a DAP candidate in the 15th General Election (GE15).
Wong was reported to have made the decision to contest as an independent due to his responsibilities to the people.
He said the Bentong Parliamentary seat will be defended on the people's ticket after his name was no longer in the list of candidates for the seat in GE15.
"I was not included in their "big strategy" for DAP in this election," he said as reported by Astro Awani on Wednesday.
Wong said as a Bentong native, he was determined to defend the seat he held since GE14.
"In the past four years I have carried out my duties to the best of my abilities for the people of Bentong.
"Bentong is my hometown, and I am committed to continue to serve for the people here. We are here to create a platform for the power of the people, plant the seeds of hope not only for Bentong, but for the country as well," he said.
He said the Bentong community could choose a leader to represent the area.
"Today DAP had decided not to continue this understanding, I want to make it clear that the people had the right to decide their future.
"I am not interested in these political games especially for political parties. The people are not chess pieces," he said.
Astro Awani reported that DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook in a press conference said the party had discussed with Wong before making its decision.
Loke said Wong refused to accept the suggestion for him to be placed as the Cameron Highlands Parliamentary seat candidate.
"There was a suggestion for Wong to contest in Cameron Highlands and Chiong Yoke Kong would have paved the way even though he was the Tanah Rata assemblyman.
"However, he (Wong) didn't agree with the views. As a party, we need to make a decision and Chiong was the best candidate to contest in the Cameron Highlands seat when Wong didn't accept the suggestion," he explained.
