KOTA KINABALU: Little-known Grace Lee Li Mei turned giant killer when she toppled state Tourism, Culture and Arts Minister Datuk Christina Liew to become the new Kota Kinabalu PKR division chief.
Liew, who has been the face of Sabah PKR for over two decades, was ousted from her division stronghold by 224 votes.
Lee, 55, decided to take on Liew, 71, after she was removed as the Api-Api community development head by the latter.
She secured 1,381 votes against the 1,157 polled by Liew, a three-term Api-Api assemblywoman, in the divisional election held on Sunday.
Liew’s defeat is the latest in a string of setbacks. She lost her Sabah Pakatan Harapan chairman post to Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick in December and replaced as Sabah PKR chief in August 2022.
In the 2022 general election, Liew failed to hold on to her Tawau parliamentary seat despite a wave of support for Pakatan.
Lee, who was from the hospitality industry, called on party members to close ranks and pledged to work with all sides.
“We are one family. Let’s rise together, strengthen the division and ensure the voice of Kota Kinabalu folk continue to be heard,” she said in a statement yesterday.
Liew, who has yet to respond to her defeat, was among seven of 24 incumbent division chiefs toppled in the PKR divisional elections in Sabah.
Others prominent casualties included Sabah PKR secretary Sazalye Donol Abdullah, recently appointed special officer to the Chief Minister. He was third in a four-cornered contest in Kota Marudu division.
Sabah PKR chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, who is the Deputy Higher Education Minister, retained his Kota Belud division chief’s post comfortably, thrashing his two challengers who received 100 and 67 votes against his 1,405.
Political analyst Tony Paridi Bagang said the Sabah PKR results reflected a significant moment of transition and internal recalibration for the party which followed the national trend.
“It also signals a shift in grassroots sentiment.
The majority of party members are looking for fresh leadership, more inclusive engagement and a more dynamic approach,” he said.
