BENTONG, March 30 – The desire of Himpunan Hijau chairman Wong Tuck to contest on a DAP ticket in Bentong in the 13th general election may remain just a dream as he may not be wanted by the voters here. Several residents in the parliamentary constituency said Wong was no threat to MCA deputy president and incumbent MP Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai(Pic) who was seen as a credible and acceptable candidate by the multi-racial community.
One of them, Tan Yok Kun, 65, said Wong could only dream of the post as residents there knew his true colours.
“He (Wong Tuck) claims to be from Telemong, Bentong, but when things got rough he ran to Sabah. He came back when things got better, hoping to become a candidate and started to try and win back old friends and people here.
“He was initially the coordinator of Himpunan Hijau. He asked people to walk with him to the federal capital and now he wants to be a politician. People became angry because he used Himpunan Hijau for his personal interests,” he told Bernama.
V. Munusami, 60, a villager of Kampung Ketari, here, said the opposition had no chance based on Liow’s outstanding service record as a member of parliament who always went down to the ground to help the people.
“He’s brought a lot of development to Bentong. Now, there is a commercial centre here and people can easily make a living. I don’t know what else the opposition can make an issue of.
“Wong Tuck can go on with his dream to be a candidate, we have no qualms, but we won’t support him,” he said. Yong Si Chun, 64, who claims to have known Wong for years, said residents were happy with the Barisan Nasional (BN) government which worked hard for the people regardless of race.
“It is hard for the opposition to win here because they only know how to criticise BN and deny the success they’ve brought here.
“If they field Wong Tuck as a candidate, I can safely say that Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai will win by a big majority as voters know what he has done,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, when asked to comment on Wong’s wish to contest, said it seemed to violate the principles of Himpunan Hijau as a non-governmental organisation.
“There are even members of Himpunan Hijau who urged him to quit as the organisation’s chairman.
“Wong Tuck has used Himpunan Hijau to gain popularity by opposing the Lynas project in Gebeng, Kuantan, while he has his own agenda,” he said.
He said voters were definitely able to evaluate Liow’s credibility and leadership through the service delivered to the constituents in Bentong. The menteri besar expressed confidence that Bentong would remain an MCA and BN stronghold in Pahang.
BERNAMA
