KOTA KINABALU – Leaders from both sides of the aisle have described Batu Sapi MP Datuk VK Liew as a “hardworking and good man”.
After the news of Liew’s death yesterday afternoon, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin expressed his condolences and said he has known Liew to be a dedicated and responsible man.
“On behalf of the government, I thank the contribution of the late Liew Vui Keong for his service as MP and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department before this,” Muhyiddin said in a Facebook post.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also thanked Liew for his contributions as a law minister under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration, and would be remembered by the people and the country.
Meanwhile, Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal extended his condolences to Liew’s wife Datin Lindai Lee and her four children.
Parti Bersatu Sabah president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili on behalf of the party said they are shocked to learn of Liew’s death.
“He was a very dedicated leader, especially on matters of Sabah rights. Datuk VK Liew was a good friend and a fine leader. We also pray that God will help Liew’s family to recover and heal, in time, from this heartbreaking loss,” Ongkili said in a Facebook post.
Former education minister Maszlee Malik yesterday shared on Facebook an old photo of him with Liew. Maszlee was visiting Liew in hospital in September when Liew suffered from a slip disc.
“I still remember how hardworking he was. His fighting spirit and optimism towards any nation building and change had already qualified him to be a well-known statesman. Today, my friend left me, all of us and the country,” wrote Maszlee.
Sandakan MP Vivian Wong Shir Yee of DAP said she remembers Liew as a hardworking man.
“He taught me a lot. He was very helpful, even when he was a minister, he would personally reply to my messages. The people in Sandakan, particularly Batu Sapi will surely miss him,” she said.
One of Liew’s media representatives in Sandakan, Rozzalin Mohd Hashim, said Liew was loved by media practitioners for he was seen as one of the most “media-friendly-YB” here.
“The media and the people of Batu Sapi will truly miss him as a great and cheerful YB here,” he said.
Born in Kota Belud, Liew was a lawyer before joining politics. His first important position in politics was becoming the third president of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 2006.
He won the Sandakan parliamentary seat in 2008 general election, and landed a position as the deputy minister of International Trade and Industry I under then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Later, Liew was deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Legal Affairs) under Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
However, Liew did not retain his Sandakan seat in 2013. Less than 100 days into his defeat, there was a movement in LDP to unseat him as president.
Two years later, Liew joined Warisan a couple of months before the 2018 general election, and was quickly appointed as the party’s permanent chairman.
He contested in the Batu Sapi parliamentary seat, this time under Warisan. He won and was appointed as a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law) under former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
After Perikatan Nasional took over the federal government, Liew told the people of Batu Sapi that he would work hard and concentrate on serving them.
“It does not matter that I had lost my position as a minister, at least we (Warisan) are firm with our stance. This will in turn give me more time to concentrate on my people here,” he said.
Liew was also known as the first minister to push for abolishment of the death penalty. The proposal was then dismissed by Perikatan Nasional’s government in March.
His passing has left the Batu Sapi seat vacant. – The Vibes, October 3, 2020
