On the ground: Liow (right) meeting Karak residents after attending a programme in Karak, Bentong.
PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai has not turned his back on Bentong despite no longer being its MP since the last general election.
The former four-term Bentong MP, who was first elected there in 1999, has continued to champion the interest of his ex-constituents, as seen during the fire and floods that hit the area last year.
Liow’s initiative to help victims of the Kampung Baru Karak fire that destroyed homes on Oct 1 last year has been a highlight.
Fifty-three houses and eight shophouses went up in smoke in the incident that caused an outpouring of emotion across the country.
Thanks to his dedicated efforts, the victims of the fire will move into their rebuilt homes about a year from now.
Liow, who heads the Special Task Force on the Karak Fire Victims, was instrumental in getting the reconstruction project started with a ground-breaking ceremony last week.
During the floods that hit Bentong last December, Liow reached out to private companies and the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) group to collect resources and safety equipment to aid the victims.
As the then Transport Minister, Liow also ensured that ECRL stations were approved in Bentong to spur the local economy. He also pushed for the construction of the Central-Spine Road Highway to shorten the travel distance in Bentong.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Liow criticised incumbent Bentong MP Wong Tack for having pledged to get rid of the Lynas rare earth processing factory in Gebeng when Pakatan Harapan took over Putrajaya in 2018.
“Also, the ones who cancelled the construction of the ECRL station in Bentong was not me, but DAP leaders,” he pointed out.
He was responding to DAP secretary general Anthony Loke, who reportedly told a Chinese daily on Monday that the DAP was “collecting bullets” against Liow.
Liow criticised Loke for what he termed as uncouth remarks.
“Instead, Loke should have outlined what the DAP has done to develop Bentong since 2018,” he added.
He said a general election is held to elect leaders who have a vision and mission to develop the country.
“It is not about hurling insults and sowing hatred towards any individual,” he said.
