VIDEO | 5.17 min

Himpunan Hijau chairperson Wong Tack is ready to contest Bentong parliamentary constituency against Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai, but Pakatan Rakyat has yet to endorse his candidacy.

azlan "I am ready to contest in Bentong. We choose Bentong because (Pahang Menteri Besar) Adnan Yaacob has challenged us before.

"We accept the challenge and want to cut off Adnan's ear," he told Malaysiakini when contacted.

He was referring to Adnan's statement that if Liow loses in Bentong, the Pahang menteri besar will " cut off his ear and jump into the Pahang river."

However, Wong Tack said that the Pakatan leadership have not confirmed which component party banner he will use in the contest.

In addition, he said he needs to consult with leaders of various NGOs such as S Ambiga and Maria Chin Abdullah this afternoon, before finalising his candidacy in Bentong.

In a statement issued in the evening, Wong Tack confirmed that he will be contesting in Bentong.

“This is a final life and death struggle between the people and the tyranny political power.

“Himpunan Hijau may not have any political experience and resources, but we believe we have the hearts of the people. We believe in the power of love.

“With that, we will come forward to take this challenge head-on.”

Endorsed by 37 academics and activists

Wong’s decision was endorsed by 37 academics and social activists, led by Penang Institute fellow Wong Chin Huat.

“It is therefore time to have more green-minded lawmakers in our Parliament and state legislative assemblies to scrutinise our laws and policies to keep environmental disasters at bay.

“Wong Tack, whose team has effectively put Lynas in the minds of the Malaysian public, is certainly one of the most relevant and representative faces,” Chin Huat said in a statement.

When approached later, DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke said that the Pakatan leadership will be making an official announcement regarding Wong Tack’s candidacy tomorrow.

However, Loke refused to give any further details on the matter.

NONE The Bentong seat is considered a MCA stronghold. During the 2008 general election, Liow (left) won by a huge majority of 12,549 votes, beating PKR candidate G Ponusamy.

Asked on the chances of winning against Liow, who is considered ‘Mr Nice Guy’ among locals, Wong was unperturbed at Liow’s popularity.

For Wong Tack, the most important issue is to close the “environmentally-hazardous” Lynas rare earth plant.

“He (Liow) may distribute 1,000 cakes to woo voters. But how about if a mother gave birth a deformed baby (because of Lynas)?

“Think of the mother, how much suffering does she need to take? It is a great sin!”

However, Lynas has denied its operation will be detrimental to human health .