12th March, enroute to the East Coast to speak at a ceramah at Kuala Nerus and to meet, brief and distribute ABU material to ABU operators and volunteers, I stopped off in Karak.
It had already been rumoured that Wong Tack would contest in Bentong and, I having lived in Karak and had my law firm in Bentong for almost 6 years, I thought I would try to get an idea of voter sentiment there.
Restaurant owner’s son on my right.
As it turned out, the restaurant I stopped at is owned by an MCA man so you can imagine his views.
To my surprise, I was informed that that very night, Guan Eng was in Bentong with Wong Tack to introduce the latter as the DAP candidate for Bentong.
Returning to KL on Friday, last week, I decided to stop over in Bentong to have a meal and a chat with my non-MCA buddy, Rocky, who runs a photo studio there.
With Rocky in the Bentong Cafe
What Rocky had to say was encouraging, but also made it clear to me that some strategic planning and intelligent work in Bentong could well see Wong Tack bring down Liow Tiong Lai.
The following day, ABU eagle, Willie, was in Bentong for a wedding so I got him to also get a sampling of voter sentiment.
He called me to say Wong Tack was there too.
Willie went up to Wong Tack to convey my message to him : ABU was ready to help him win Bentong.
His personal assistant is supposed to get in touch.
Today, The Sun reports Wong Tack as saying that he will be contesting in Bentong as an independent green candidate.
It also reports, thankfully, Wong Tack’s clarification that he was still firm that the Lynas plant must shut down if there is a change of government post the 13th GE.
“My previous statement gave the impression that I welcome Lynas. I regret the way I spoke and wish to bring clarity to my stand”, Wong is reported to have said.
It is good that this has been clarified.
Now Wong Tack must clarify and not be vague about this : DAP or independent candidate?
I will only say this.
From all that I have heard in Bentong, there may be value in his giving serious consideration to standing as an independent candidate.
Either way, ABU is ready to go to ground for him.
The People's Parliament 
bigjoe99
March 21, 2013
Ideally Wong Tak should be an independent candidate. But we have too many spoilers both paid and unpaid that is already making too much noise and fragmenting mindshare of what is already a rainbow coalition of Pakatan..
Like PSM, Wong Tak should keep the option that he is not giving up his independence after UMNO/BN is taken down..DAP for now, after UMNO/BN out, anything is possible. Hindraf and local Sabah parties really should do the same thing. You can have a bigger rainbow after the GE..
Paul Warren
March 21, 2013
Sounds to me BN will keep Bentong!
Don’t try, don’t know
happy for wongtack
March 21, 2013
I believe he has to stand on a PR ticket, be dap or pkr or pas. Otherwise, it will be 3 way fight, not good for pakatan. I support wong tack so long as he keeps his word and get lynas stopped. I am a kuantanite, and now many of us daren’t eat fish from the east coast. We go for tilapia and the like, salmon and even dory fish!
R
March 21, 2013
Bro, DAP is only a platform for him. Either way, he has proven his tenancity and vigour against BN. I sincerely believe that he will trash the lier tong lai in this forthcoming GE
Voter Wan Abdullah
March 21, 2013
Yes Bentong we eagles will go & ABU http://www.15 to hell. We will distribute http://www.15 head honcho CSL cartoons & BHN.
Foch Avenue
March 21, 2013
I already have my reservations on Wong Tack’s lack of political clout against the might/incumbancy of BN and Liow Tiong Lai. More so Bentong being MCA’s stronghold.
Now with his somewhat stubborn insistence on being independent despite the sec. general of DAP providing unequivocal support of the whole party machinery, akin to an umbrella for his shelter at times of need, Wong is not being appreciative.
If he thinks just by organising 300 km protest walk and a few protest appearances here and there will enable him to take down Liow Tiong Lai, he is still very much a greenhorn, and, someone should enlighten him to be slightly more humble.
I would caution that he, a first timer in politics should show better etiquette, win the election and not deprive a full-fledged DAP party member of his rightful chance.
shakuntala
March 21, 2013
Wong Tack ….ikut DAP. He is someone who can really entice a following with his kind of special charm and attraction as a good person.
Support Wong Tack for DAP!!!!!
Sam Kin Kit
March 21, 2013
as a Bentong voter, my previous concern is always a good candidate from the Pakatan, there’s no familiar face in Bentong. I think DAP did a lot of ground work, but without someone every voters can recognized it’ll always be hard esp when Liow Tiong LIE and Ho Khai Mun were doing so much publicity since long ago. Despite that, in Wong Tack we have someone many people will know, seriously i don’t think being with DAP is a bad thing esp when he needs all the help from the party for campaigning. One vote from me to Wong Tack, GUARANTEED.
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
March 21, 2013
Haris,
Who cares which banner Wong Tack is standing under? His opponent is an UMNO lackey and that’s all there is to it.
I don’t think MCA understands the depth of anger which Malaysians of Chinese origins have against MCA.
I personally know a 30-year member of MCA who’s had enough.
I know of a 55-year MCA seat which looks so shaky that they are buying help from a person with strong DAP links 🙂 Pls don’t ask me to explain how this works but we all think it is hilarious!!! 🙂 Trust me, you, too, would have a giggle if I told you.
MCA can count itself lucky if it wins just one seat anywhere in GE13.
ablogsmith
March 21, 2013
Pleease, please, please and 1 more please, no 3 or more party contest and hand victory on a silver platter to UMNO/BN
Ying Seng
March 21, 2013
Maybe this news article is relevant for P-Bentong.
Shortchanged in the millions, 351 sue Felda
http://www.freemalaysiakini2.com/?p=60649
Lynn Cheang
March 21, 2013
Since Wong Tack is someone who has proven credibility about the issue in his state, PR and DAP in particular should not stand in his way. I call upon DAP not to be so uncompromising; let this activist stand as an indie to maintain his integrity and kick Liow out. Let it be a one-on-one fight between Wong and Liow.
wandererAUS
March 21, 2013
Stop splitting hair and stop the crap of which party platform he should use or stand as an Independent. What matters, anything except BN!! Would’nt it be to an advantage to the Greens if Pakatan won the election…perhaps, having a ministry for environment affairs? What so wrong? Let us concentrate our efforts of getting Wong Tack over the line and stop prostituting with an unimportant issue.
annabrella
March 22, 2013
Why not just go for a win-win solution and enable WT to stand as an independent candidate under the democratic PR umbrella?
“Imagine Power To The People” John lennon.
wandererAUS
March 22, 2013
If Wong Tack stood as an Independent, does he has the resources to match the corrupted MCA liar?…dream on. Let face it, MCA Liow is no walkover. So Wong definitely, need a collective effort from Pakatan partners to do the job. Arrogance and over-confident will get us nowhere. Let us all concentrate on the real issue…to wipe off MCA and secure another seat for Pakatan.
shakuntala
March 22, 2013
About the best clout from you wandererAUS….bravo! OMG ….you are righteously angry!
Agree what matters most is to get ,……BN….out. Have to cut crap and be realistic eh? Support you on collective effort to do the ousting…..
delcapo
March 22, 2013
Back in the days, I would have loved to see Haris Vs Liow in Bentong.
Dammit it would have been such a good fight.
ok Sam, no need for you to be a reluctant candidate 😉
DAP or Indie…
Wong Tack is Wong Tack.
This man might not be the polished speaker or politician… but he walks (literally as well) the talks.
Full support!!
Skin that MCA bugger!!
wandererAUS
March 22, 2013
shakuntala, yes you are damn right I am angry. How the hell are we going to get a win for Wong Tack when we are bitching among our-selves with a non issue…instead of using our collective efforts to send that MCA compulsive liar to Timbuktu?!