Chong Wei, Fernandes pull in crowd

BENTONG: Two big Malaysian names came to town and brought the house down.

Residents turned up in droves to catch a glimpse of badminton star Datuk Lee Chong Wei and AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes who came to lend support to their long-time friend, MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, on his campaign trail.

At the Simpang Pelangai community hall, which is about 65km from here, the kids erupted into cheers and mobbed Lee as he emerged from his car.

Wearing a Malaysia jersey featuring tiger stripes, the Olympic silver medallist teamed up with Liow, his wife Datin Seri Lee Sun Loo, Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and Fernandes to play against the locals yesterday.

Hundreds of residents crowded around the court to watch the match.

They roared during a long rally, especially when both sides refused to give up and delivered smashes all the way.

Earlier at the Bentong Youth Club, Lee sparred with local badminton enthusiasts.

His opponents, including two boys Lum Chee Kian, eight, and Cheng Jinn Yang, 10, tried hard to impress Lee as they took him on and Bentong Youth Club chairman Chris Woon.

“He is my idol. I watched him on TV many times,” Chee Kian said.

 Liow and Chong Wei teaming up to play with some of the Bentong Youth Club members. — Bernama   

Chee Kian shook his head when asked if he was nervous but his father Chan Leong, 27, blurted out that the boy was in awe of the badminton star.

Lee told reporters that he and the Bentong MP went way back, when Liow was Deputy Youth and Sports Minister.

“We often met at functions. We would catch up over dinners. He is my good friend, and I am here to give him emotional support,” he said.

Liow said the development of Bentong should emulate the “Lee Chong Wei spirit”.

“His fighting spirit roars until the last second during matches to make the country proud.

“For Bentong, every resident is a team player. We need everyone’s participation to make Bentong the satellite town of Greater Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

Fernandes said it was an eye-opener for him to drive to places like Sungai Pelangai and look at the homestays along the way.

“We think Bentong has a lot of potential.

“Since AirAsia is all about new places and new destinations, supporting this badminton programme and exploring Bentong make a lot of sense to me,” he said, adding that the inflight magazine of AirAsia has also promoted Bentong.

Fernandes, who was accompanied by his wife, was swamped by locals who asked for wefies with him which he obliged.

Both Fernandes and Lee were also in Raub yesterday where MCA vice-president Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun is standing as a parliamentary candidate.

At another event in Sepang, Liow said that Sepang must be included as part of the development of Greater Kuala Lumpur.

The development of Sepang is possible because it is located between the Malaysian Vision Valley in Negri Sembilan and Greater Kuala Lumpur, he said.