KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 — Incumbent Bentong MP Wong Tack has announced his defence of the seat as an independent, after DAP confirmed Young Syefura Othman as its candidate there for the 15th general election.

Earlier today, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said the party had offered Wong the Cameron Highlands seat — a Barisan Nasional stronghold — and the latter declined.

According to the Malaysiakini news portal, Wong has confirmed his entry on the "people’s ticket”.

"DAP has decided not to field me in the Bentong parliamentary seat in GE15. I was told I would not fit into their grand strategy for the general election,” he was quoted as saying.

Wong rose to prominence on the back of his opposition to Australian mining firm Lynas Corp’s rare-earths processing plant in Pahang, and used it as his primary platform during the campaign for the 2013 general election to defeat the MCA president at the time, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

Earlier today, Loke said he had given Wong 24 hours to accept the Cameron Highlands seat, which the latter rejected.

Young Syefura — or Rara as she is commonly called — is the incumbent for the Ketari state seat in Pahang, with GE15 to be her first tilt at a federal seat.