MCA TOP BRASS GO ALL OUT TO SAVE LIOW, WITH KA SIONG EVEN SINGING A SONG – BUT BENTONG DOESN’T SEEM CONVINCED, LESS THAN ‘HEBAT’ CROWD LOOKS TIRED EXCEPT FOR MCA’S OWN SUPPORTERS

BENTONG: Jalan Datuk Poo Yew Choy in Bentong town here came alive with a Ceramah Sayang Ben­tong last night, with MCA suppor­ters chanting “Barisan Nasional hebat”, “Bentong hebat” and “Liow Tiong Lai hebat”.

Named after the late five-term MCA assemblyman, the road was packed with people listening to cera­mah featuring MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and vice-president Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun.

Themed “positive energy, love Bentong”, the speakers briefed the thousand-strong audience on MCA’s contribution to the country, from 10 new Chinese primary schools to producing thousands of talents through its higher learning institutions, to various mega projects including the Digital Free Trade Zone, East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and Central Spine Road.

Dr Wee, who came from Johor to lend his support to Liow, surprised the audience by singing a few lines from You Are My Only One, a song by Malaysian singer Eric Moo.

Dr Wee’s purpose of singing the song was to tell the people that Liow has been steadfast in serving Bentong, even though he only won by a razor thin majority in the last general election.

“Liow could have stood in any state, but from early on he was determined to stay in Bentong for the people here,” he said to thunderous applause.

The speakers, including VTAR Institute chief executive officer Tan Cheng Liang, Pahang MCA chairman Datuk Hoh Khai Mun and MCA’s candidate for Bilut state seat Jason Poo, also highlighted the Oppo­sition’s shortcomings.

“DAP is good at twisting and turning its statements, like flipping roti canai,” Dr Wee said, commenting on DAP’s response towards its MP Teo Nie Ching’s comments on jiao mie (wipe out) MCA.

Chew said Liow’s tireless effort in promoting China’s Belt and Road Initiative and fostering closer ties with China has paid off in the form of high prices of durians, to the be­­nefit of durian farmers and expor­ters in the country.

“The good price does not happen overnight. If Tun Dr Mahathir Mo­­ha­­mad’s Pakatan Harapan comes into power, the durian price will fall for sure,” she said, referring to Dr Mahathir’s stance in rejecting investment from China.

Liow, who is seeking to be Ben­tong MP for the fifth term, said Bentong is poised to be the satellite town of Greater Kuala Lumpur.

“Let’s unite and support MCA and keep MCA within the Government.

“We should not let go of this opportunity for Bentong to ride on the wave of national transformation,” he said.

Earlier, during a visit to the construction site of the ECRL here, Liow urged the Selangor state government to look into land acquisition for the Selangor stretch of the 688km ECRL soon.

He said the project is important for the rakyat so he hoped the Selangor state government would give its support and cooperation.

“If land acquisition is still not settled, it will affect the progress of the project,” he said.

He was told that the ECRL, with Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd as the project and asset owner and China Communications Construc­tion Company as the main contractor, had met a stumbling block when it came to land acquisition in Selan­gor.

ANN