Fruitful outing to Bentong for China delegation
Investors in Malaysia rail project impressed by attractions and local delicacies
BENTONG: Instead of a formal meeting in the office, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai played tour guide for the day and met his guests in a casual setting, savouring the much-loved King of Fruits and listening to the gushing water at a waterfall.
The delegation of 15 representatives from CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co Ltd – an investor in the country’s rail project – visited Bentong on Tuesday.
Led by CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive chairman Zhou Qinghe, they were received by Liow, his wife Datin Seri Lee Sun Loo and Bentong MCA chief Datuk Hoh Khai Mun, before being ushered to several tourist attractions to enjoy local delicacies.
On his Facebook page, Liow, who is also Bentong MP, said the group went to the Song Yan Eco-Leisure Village in Bukit Tinggi to enjoy the cool weather, scenery and local products such as ginger tea and durian pizza.
Next, they dropped by an eco-tourism farm in Janda Baik and then the Chamang Waterfall.
Their itinerary also included the Bentong Chinese Assembly Hall and Bentong Gallery.
A main highlight of their visit was, of course, being treated to Musang King durians.
Liow said both Bukit Tinggi and Janda Baik, which are not far from Kuala Lumpur, are suitable for eco-tourism.
“I hope our famous Musang King durian and Bentong ginger will also attract more visitors, especially those from China, to Bentong.”
He said that after the completion of the East Coast Rail Line (ECRL) from Kuala Lumpur to Kelantan, the travelling time between Bentong and Kuala Lumpur will only take 20 minutes.
It was reported that when the ECRL is completed in 2024, it will allow passengers to travel from Wakaf Baru in Kelantan to Gombak and onwards to Port Klang in about four hours.
It can take up to 12 hours by road now. Impressed with the products of Bentong, Zhou ordered 12,000 packets of Bentong ginger tea powder and Musang King durians to be sent back to China for his employees.
Zhou said his company has been operating in Malaysia for many years.
“Other than an office in Kuala Lumpur, we have also set up a factory in Batu Gajah, Perak, three years ago, to manufacture train coaches.”
In a statement released in Petaling Jaya later, Liow said those responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 will be tried in the Netherlands.
He said Malaysia and Joint Investigation Team (JIT) partners – Netherlands, Belgium, Ukraine and Australia – agreed for the prosecution to take place in the Netherlands.
He said the decision was in line with Malaysia’s commitments to establish truth and justice for the victims’ loved ones.
“The cooperation between the investigative authorities will also continue during the prosecution phase.
“With this milestone, Malaysia is ever more resolute to seek justice,” Liow added.
He also thanked those in the JIT for the hard work that enabled everyone to move forward.
“While we cannot take away the grief of the families and loved ones of MH17 passengers and crew, we will do everything possible to ensure justice is done independently, fairly and transparently.
“We will not rest until all the facts are known and justice is served,” he said.
Flight MH17 was heading to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam when it was shot down above the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014. All 298 passengers and crew, including 44 Malaysian citizens, were killed.