Christina Liew


Christina Liew is a Malaysian politician who is one of the Deputy Chief Ministers as well the State Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment of Sabah. She holds the position of state chairman of the People's Justice Party for Sabah.

Personal life

Christina was born in British Hong Kong to Hakka Chinese parents. Her parents migrated to Tawau in British Crown Colony of North Borneo when she was a few months old. She is married to a Chinese Indonesian of Hokkien origin who migrated to the United States but travels often to live with her and their children.

Political career

In 1986, Christina stood as a United Sabah Party candidate in the Tawau parliamentary seat but lost. After nine years with the party, she left before joining Malaysian Chinese Association in 1995 and became the party State Women chief for Sabah until her resignation in January 1999. Due to her frustration with the detention of People's Justice Party activists under the Internal Security Act, she then joined PKR in 2002. In 2013, Christina was appointed as the Deputy Chairman of Sabah State PKR. She is also the State Assemblywomen for Api Api for the state of Sabah. In 2017, she was appointed as the Pakatan Harapan state chief for Sabah.

1986 general election

In the 1986 election, PBS fielded her in the Tawau parliamentary against Democratic Action Party candidate Samson Chin Chee Tsu but she lost.

2002 general by-election

Following the disqualification of Yong Teck Lee as Gaya Member of Parliament and Likas assemblyman since September 2002 due to being found guilty of corruption according to the Election Offences Act 1954, a by-election was held in that year with Christina contesting the election under PKR party. The seat was however regained by Yong party of Sabah Progressive Party with Liew Teck Chan won the seat while Christina came in third place.

2008 general election

In the 2008 election, PKR fielded her to contest the Kota Kinabalu parliamentary seat but she lost to DAP candidate Hiew King Cheu.

2018 general election

In the 2018 election, her party fielded her to contest the Tawau parliamentary seat facing the defending candidate from United Sabah Party, Yap Kain Ching. She won and became the new member of parliament for Tawau. She was also appointed as one of the Deputy Chief Ministers and State Tourism Minister for Sabah following the victory of Sabah Heritage Party with PH coalition of DAP and PKR to forming a new state government, becoming the second woman in the history of Sabah Deputy Chief Minister as well the first Chinese woman to hold the position.

Election results

Lawsuit

In 2014, Christina is one of three people that were ordered to pay damages to Borneo Samudera Sdn Bhd for unlawfully inducing the Bahagak Smallholders Scheme participants to breach their joint venture agreement with BSSB.

Honours