FORMER environmental activist Wong Tack was one of those leading protests against rare earth refinery Lynas in Gebeng outside Parliament, just a few years ago.

Fast forward to two weeks ago, the Bentong MP was sworn in as a federal legislator in the Dewan Rakyat.

“I’m already close to retirement age, but I won’t complain. Look at Dr Mahathir (Mohamad), he proves that age is not an issue,” the 59-year-old told The Malaysian Insight in a recent interview.  

The former chairman of Himpunan Hijau, a green movement that sprang up to protest against several development projects in 2011, expects a steep learning curve as a first-term MP.  

The DAP lawmaker is one of 90 first-time MPs, the highest number in the country’s history, who made their debut in the Dewan Rakyat recently.

Wong first stood in elections in 2013 and lost by 379 votes to MCA president Liow Tiong Lai.

He beat Liow, former transport minister and four-term Bentong MP, by 2,032 votes on May 9.

“Nobody thought we could win (Bentong), that the MCA president would be defeated,” said Wong.  

He is also slated to head a committee to review Lynas with Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh.

Wong said he would continue to champion environmental issues in the Dewan Rakyat.

“Our country must (adopt) sustainable development. It’s our responsibility to future generations,” he said. – July 29, 2018.