Roads leading to the Bentong Chinese Town Hall were aglow with multicoloured lanterns as hundreds of residents gathered near the town hall to celebrate the Mooncake Festival.

There was also a lion dance performance by the famous Kun Seng Keng Lion and Dragon Dance Association troupe.

Bentong MP Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai joined his constituents in the evening festivities.

Liow (middle, holding lantern) mingling with the crowd at the Mooncake Festival at the Bentong Chinese Town Hall. With him are Amna (second from right) and Hoh (behind Liow and Amna).

Liow, who is also Transport Minister and MCA president, arrived at the hall at 7.30pm and mingled with those present.

Holding a lantern lit with a battery-powered candle, Liow joined some 1,500 residents in a 4km walk that took them to four new villages in the area – Kampung Baru Repas, Kampung Baru Chamang, Kampung Baru Kemasur and Kampung Baru Perting.

Along the way, Liow stopped to chat with residents who stood outside their houses to greet their MP.

Among them was retiree Choo Kun Wah, 65, who was happy the festival was held in his hometown.

“It is very nice, everyone came out to watch the lion dance. It is good to have festivals like this here. The children are also very happy,” said Choo.

Among the crowd was telemarketer Norbaizura Idrus, 30, who accompanied her 11-year-old daughter, Amna Fasihah Zaid, to the festival.

Norbaizura said she was excited to be at the festival and part of such a large crowd.

“I feel there should be more festivals like this.

“It is especially exciting for the children, they are so happy to be participating,” she said, adding that her baju kurung-clad daughter took part in the walk with her classmates from SJK(C) Khai Mun.

Liow also stayed to watch the lion dance performance before leaving at about 9.30pm.

Also present at the event were Pahang MCA chairman Datuk Hoh Khai Mun and Bentong MCA deputy chairman Woong Choo Yak.

Liow and Hoh also attended the 107th anniversary celebration of the Guangxi Association Bentong at the association’s office earlier in the afternoon.

-The Star-