KOTA KINABALU: Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew loses her PKR Kota Kinabalu division chief post.
She was defeated by long-time rival and former head of the Development Community Leaders Unit, Lee Li Mei, in the PKR divisional elections held on Sunday (April 20).
Lee secured 1,381 votes, while Liew, a three-term Api-Api assemblywoman, received 1,157 votes, losing by a margin of 224.
The loss adds to a series of political setbacks for Liew.
In December last year, she was replaced as Sabah Pakatan Harapan chairman by Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick, ending her leadership of the coalition which began in 2017.
She was also removed as Sabah PKR chief in 2022 after losing the confidence of the majority of the state’s 25 division leaders.
Meanwhile, Deputy Higher Education Minister and Sabah PKR chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud successfully defended his Kota Belud division post.
Mustapha, who is also the Sepanggar MP won comfortably with 1,405 votes, defeating his challengers Madeli @ Modily Bangali and Azhrie Jenaim, who received 100 and 67 votes respectively.
Sabah PKR secretary Sazalye Donol, recently appointed as a special officer to the Chief Minister, failed to retain his Kota Marudu division chief post.
He placed third in a four-way race, securing 512 votes.
The post was won by Zaidi Jatil, who obtained 1,031 votes, followed by Jolius Majawi with 648 votes, while Jasmon Jaji received 182.
State PKR information chief Razeef Rakimin managed to defend his Tuaran division leadership. He received 352 votes, defeating Abdul Ali Madtair, who garnered 243 votes, and Hampry Luaran with 170 votes.
Several other prominent PKR figures in Sabah were also unseated in the divisional polls.
Former Pensiangan division chief Raymond Ahuar lost his post to Rufinah Pangeran, while in Kimanis, Awang Chuchu Amin was defeated by Niki Mohan Singh @ Mohana Singh Ramday.
In Tenom, Barani Ampise was replaced by Herbert Roger, while in Libaran, Ham Salleh lost to Abdul Said Pimping. In Kalabakan, Roslan Sapar was unseated by Albani Najawi.
However, not all incumbents lost.
Former Sabah PKR chief Datuk Sangkar Rasam managed to retain his position as Keningau division chief.
Other winners in the divisional polls included Stefly Said in Kudat, Datuk Peto Galim in Sepanggar, Datuk Husain Sahari in Putatan, Chang Ket Hoi @ Joseph Alex Chang in Penampang, Roslee Malek in Papar and Dikin Musah in Beaufort.
Aside from them, other winners are Wendy Agong Baruh in Sipitang, Apirin bin Jahalan @ Taufik Sham in Ranau, Basran Omar in Beluran, Aris Remigius @ Haris Remigius in Batu Sapi, Sahrudin A Harol in Sandakan, Azmi Datu Tamboyong in Kinabatangan, Romansa Lamin in Silam, and Fung Thin Yein in Tawau.
The result for the Semporna division has yet to be announced as it is still pending an audit.
