Wong Tack still a man on fire

(The Star) – Himpunan Hijau chairman Wong Tack is standing by his statement that he will burn down the Lynas rare earth refinery if it is not shut down by the elected government after the general election.

He admitted that it was a statement of violence but said the public should take into account the dangers posed by a rare earth refinery.

It was reported that Pakatan Rakyat leaders had disagreed with Wong’s statement and had distanced themselves from the group.

In response to that, Wong said Pakatan should be proud that he was placing so much confidence in the Opposition coalition.

“Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has given his commitment to shut down Lynas if Pakatan comes into power. It is with that assurance that I made the statement,” he said, adding that the same step would be taken if Barisan Nasional was re-elected but did not shut down the plant.

In Putrajaya, Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said: “We have laws in this country. The law enforcers will know what to do.”

The Science, Technology and Innovation Minister also called on the public not to listen to people like Wong, “who wants to take the law into his own hands.”

Dr Ongkili was speaking to newsmen after signing a memorandum of understanding with Myanmar on cooperation in the science and technology fields at his office yesterday.

Wong has threatened to burn down the plant if the newly-elected government fails to shutter it.

Meanwhile, Bentong MCA division chief Datuk Hoh Khai Mun said DAP’s politics of hatred has spread to civil societies and Pakatan Rakyat must take responsibility for it.

In referring to Wong’s threat, Ho said the DAP and its coalition partners had often called for their members and the public to take to the streets in their bid to topple the government.

“This time, one of their followers has taken Pakatan’s call too far in wanting to burn down a plant without considering the immediate and long-term repercussions to the public,” he said in a statement.