I Have Been Back In Tawau Almost Every Week Says Christina Liew

---

 


Christina Liew denied that she never went back to Tawau to serve her parliamentary constituency since September last year as accused by a local activist.
The Tawau MP told Malaysiakini that the report was wrong as she is back in Tawau almost on a weekly basis.
"I have been distributing food and other supplies to the people in Tawau. And, in between, there had been travel restrictions, but sometimes I travel back by car if I cannot fly in," she said.
Liew was responding to a Malaysiakini report quoting activist and Tawau resident Rahman Imuda, who said the MP was mostly away, with her last noted appearance during the Sabah state elections last September.
She came under fire after saying the 2,000 packs of food provided by her would be arriving at Kampung Muhibbah Raya in one or two weeks after villagers raised concern over the implementation of enhanced movement control order (MCO) in the village.
Most of the villagers are daily wage workers and have been unable to work since the lockdown.
Mounting frustrations that the villagers were not given proper assistance led to a brief, peaceful protest last Saturday. The protest saw the arrest of two Borneo Komrad activists as well as five others believed to be their supporters and local villagers.

Activists protesting at Kampung Muhibbah Raya
Tawau resident Rahman took to Facebook with his WhatsApp message to Liew, which had gone unanswered.
"Actually, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, I have not seen any clear efforts from the Tawau MP to help those in need. I suggest that if you can't act for the people of Tawau in these difficult times, then do not contest again (in GE15)," Rahman told Malaysiakini last week.
Sabah PKR information chief Razeef Rakimin also criticised Liew, stating that two weeks to deliver food baskets were too long.
Liew explained today that the local authority was the body entrusted to distribute food baskets to the villages placed under lockdown.
Citing a news report, she said the Tawau Municipal Council had clarified that it sent a total of 540 food baskets to the village.
"There could be a miscommunication. According to the local council, a total 540 food baskets were given, yet the seven individuals (who were arrested) said they were hungry," she said.
Liew, who is also the Api-Api assemblyperson, said after deducting her monthly expenditure, including staff salary and office expenses, she spent her remaining wages on buying food and supplies for her constituents in need.
She also said that she already planned to provide food aid to Kampung Muhibbah Raya.
"Sometimes, I will raise funds to buy all these. Why do I need one to two weeks to distribute 2,000 food baskets? Because, whenever I have enough money to buy things, I will go (back to Tawau)," she added.
Liew also provided copies of news reports which covered the food and supply aid she provided to the people all over Tawau between September 2020 and April 2021.
She had sent face masks, face shields, sanitisers, milk powders and food baskets back to the constituency.
Prior to her visits to her constituency, Liew said, she would contact the local mosque or village heads to determine what was needed by the locals. - Mkini

---