Where is Christina Liew? Sabah PH chief absent as MP, claims critic

KOTA KINABALU – Datuk Christina Liew, the Sabah Pakatan Harapan leader, has come under the microscope over what is perceived to be her lack of visibility as Tawau MP.

A divisional Sabah DAP Youth chief today claimed that Liew was absent on the ground in her constituency and missing many times at Dewan Rakyat sittings.

Besides being a parliamentarian, Liew is the Sabah PKR chief and Api-Api assemblywoman. She is also a former Sabah deputy chief minister.

Tawau DAP Youth chief Thine Ee Hang said that Liew’s alleged tendency of being absent has become worrying as the general election draws closer.

In a press statement, he cited the MyMP website which claims that she attended 24 of 59 parliamentary sittings.

“This is worrying as it would affect the public confidence towards PH in the forthcoming 15th general election,” he said.

Thine further raised concerns about the matter as Liew plays a vital role in PH’s bid to retain all the federal seats – Tawau, Kota Kinabalu, Tenom and Sandakan – won by the coalition’s parties in the 2018 general election.

“We must not be afraid of the criticism of the people, however, we should listen to their frustration humbly to rebuild their confidence and trust towards PH.

“Only by then, we can have a chance to defeat Umno’s hegemony once again and stop Umno from building a Musa Aman 2.0 generation,” he said.

This is not the first time a complaint has been made against Liew. In December last year, her leadership in PKR came into question when 17 PKR division leaders called her to step down.

Liew’s service centres doing ‘good job’

However, Sabah PKR Youth information chief Razeef Rakimin said Liew’s constituency teams have been performing well for the public.

He said the criticism Liew faced was probably the price she has to pay for being an MP and assemblywoman of constituencies that are about 540km apart.

“But although Tawau is far away from Kota Kinabalu, where Liew is the Api-Api assemblywoman, her parliamentary service office still does a good job.

“I was constantly updated with the work done by her parliamentary office in Tawau and her Api-Api office.

“According to what the public say about her service offices, a majority of them are satisfied with the work done,” he said, countering those criticising her openly for her perceived shortcomings.

Meanwhile, a welfare NGO leader also said Liew should have more time to look into the issues in her federal constituency after no longer holding any state cabinet post.

Yayasan Setia Negara chairman Asis Bakri said Liew should have made up for lost time and started focusing on her constituencies.

Liew has not held any government position since serving as deputy chief minister and the state minister of tourism, culture and environment from May 2018 to September 2020.

“As Tawau constituents, we are asking where has Liew gone. We know she is the Api-Api assemblywoman and the MP for Tawau, no longer a deputy chief minister.

“As an opposition member in Sabah and in Parliament, she should be more vocal on the local issues,” he said when contacted.

He claimed that Liew turned up once at a recent massive fire in Kg Kurnia Jaya in Tawau last month but was nowhere to be seen thereafter.

“If you look in the social media in Tawau, many are asking where Liew has gone missing,” he claimed. “There is no denying that her service centre is doing work, but as the elected rep, she should have been on the ground more often.” – The Vibes, April 4, 2022