{"id":3089,"date":"2018-03-14T21:54:33","date_gmt":"2018-03-14T13:54:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wongtack.com\/archives\/3089"},"modified":"2018-03-14T21:54:33","modified_gmt":"2018-03-14T13:54:33","slug":"wong-tack-happy-birthday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wongtack.com\/archives\/3089","title":{"rendered":"Wong Tack, Happy Birthday ……."},"content":{"rendered":"
\nWong Tack, Happy Birthday ….<\/p>\n
Today is your 59th birthday. 7 years have passed since the day we begged you to come to Kuantan to help us fight Lynas. At that time, you had just won a 5-years battle against a government proposed coal-powered plant in Sabah. Many may not know but it was during this campaign that you gave up government and local community positions – town councillor, Secretary General of Chinese Chamber of Commerce, member of school\u2019s Board of Directors. All in all, that\u2019s a total of 12 years of struggle for the environment and wellbeing of the people, and still counting. Perhaps it\u2019s your destiny, having graduated with a degree in Environment whilst in Canada. <\/p>\n
If in Sabah, you willingly gave up positions held, in Semenanjung you gave up your health. The 300km walk from Kuantan to KL and 36-days camped out at Dataran Merdeka to bring 1 million Malaysians together when the country was experiencing its lowest point after the rakyat lost the 13th GE, were not easy. In fact, it was quite a painful ordeal and wasn\u2019t something someone of your background and stature need to go through. <\/p>\n
Anyhow, we don\u2019t know how you do it, but you seemed to have the most energy among all of us, even those younger than you by 10-20 years \ud83d\ude33.<\/p>\n
For the past few years, you have quietly pounded the streets of the rural areas from morning til night, meeting and talking to grassroots from all walks of life. Reason being, after so many years of struggle, you know that to have a green environment, we must have a clean government. <\/p>\n
Only those who are close to you will know of the sacrifices you made. Very few know of the many nights you spent, til this very day, in a room of a rented house with nothing but a thin used mattress donated by a supporter, to lay your often tired body. Or those many late nights you spent driving home through dangerous dark winding hilly roads \ud83d\ude22.<\/p>\n
But no worries, you will always reassure us. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is my last cycle of life. I don\u2019t have much time left. I just want to work very, very hard to see change happen. I hope we can leave behind something for our children which will make them proud of us,\u201d you said.<\/p>\n
But it\u2019s a daunting battle ahead. You will be up against the President of the MCA. It\u2019s raining \ud83d\udcb0 in Bentong. And it\u2019s going to get heavier \ud83d\udcb0 \ud83d\udcb5 \ud83d\udcb0, nastier and dirtier. <\/p>\n
But no worries, for we are confident, the rakyat will not allow you or the community of Bentong to shoulder this burden of taking down this corrupt and evil 60-year old Goliath alone. You will not walk alone.<\/p>\n
Wishing you Happy Birthday \ud83c\udf82 again, good health, happiness and may your dream for a green Malaysia come true! <\/p>\n
Steering Committee
\nHimpunan Hijau
\n14 March 2018. <\/p>\n
Photo credit : Roland Lim<\/p>\n
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