Kota Kinabalu: The three Chinese Nominated Assembly members view their appointments as a heavy responsibility and one which, among others, strengthens the representation of the community in the new State Government.
Former Sabah Law Society (SLS) head Datuk Roger Chin said it took some time for him to overcome the initial shock at being considered for one of the six posts.
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“It was after I realised this wasn’t about politics and that it wasn’t meant to turn me into anyone’s pawn that I agreed.
“I was assured that the role of a Nominated Assemblyman is exactly that, i.e. to bring expertise into the Legislative Assembly and to give a voice to those who have been under-represented for too long,” he told Daily Express.
“In the end, that was what made me say yes,” said Roger, who had been critical in the past about the nominated posts which the colonial administration only granted to Sabah at the time of independence and not to Sarawak.
There is no doubt that successive state governments in the past had abused these positions as a reward for political cronies.
Roger had been vocal about the gradual erosion of Sabah’s rights that were guaranteed under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 in the decades which followed.
His thoughts appear occasionally in his column “Putting Sabah First” in the Daily Express on Sundays, being one of the leading experts on the MA63.
“It means an end to the frustrations and long nights of trying to push for change from the outside.
“I realised that if I really wanted to contribute, I needed to step into the lawmaking platform itself, rather than bark from the sidelines,” he said.
PKR Kota Kinabalu division chief Grace Lee Li Mei said she was also taken by surprise when officially informed on Tuesday morning.
“I am truly grateful for the trust placed in me by party President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Head of State Tun Dr Musa Aman and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
“The responsibilities ahead are important for the progress of our people, and with unity and support of the rakyat, I believe we can overcome the challenges and move Sabah forward,” she said.
Lee takes her new responsibility seriously, particularly in ensuring that government and state-level initiatives are effectively channelled to the Chinese community in urban constituencies such as Api-Api.
She hopes the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah State Government would honour its RM90 million pledge for Chinese independent and mission schools, as well as non-Muslim religious bodies, in 2026 despite the swing by Chinese voters to the opposition in eight urban constituencies.
Lee said she would focus on restoring Chinese voter confidence in Pakatan Harapan and strengthening collaboration with Chinese PKR grassroots. She also joins Julita Majungki and Rina Jainal as the only three women in the Assembly
With women still underrepresented in the Assembly, she hopes to assist female entrepreneurs, especially single mothers who face limited opportunities.
One of her priorities is to work with City Hall to upgrade the second floor of the KK Central Market into a women-focused business hub.
“I grew up going there. It’s never been upgraded. The rent is cheap, below RM100, but the facilities are poor. Why not turn it into a proper women’s market?
“Kelantan has one. We can do it here, too.”
She also wants City Hall to consider waiving certain small-business charges to encourage more women to start micro-enterprises.
Lee intends to adopt a “sentuhan rakyat” approach in her work. “If people understand and benefit from government programmes, they will feel included.
“Some in the Chinese community assume the government doesn’t care for them. We need to change that by showing real impact,” she said.
LDP’s Ir. Chin Shu Ying said his first priority would be to hold engagement sessions with NGOs, school management boards and professional bodies to gather feedback on issues affecting their sectors.
Chin said his 25 years of involvement in NGOs, schools and professional bodies prepared him for the role.
“While we cannot expect to solve every issue overnight, I am committed to doing my best, step by step,” he said, and thanked Hajiji and LDP president Datuk Chin Su Phin for recommending him.
As an engineer, Chin said he hopes to contribute to improving development, building and engineering plan approvals by reducing unnecessary bureaucracy.
“Whether in government or opposition, let us work hand in hand for a better and brighter future for Sabah,” Chin said.
He said the position would allow him to raise long-standing issues directly in the Assembly.
“It is my hope that during this five-year term, I will be able to help address at least some of these concerns.”
With the election behind them, Chin said the focus must now shift to Sabah’s urgent infrastructure needs.
“Sabah continues to face critical challenges in water, electricity and roads — the basic needs of every rakyat,” he said, urging for the state’s 40pc revenue entitlement formula to be finalised soonest.
Chin said the strong support of more than 40 assemblymen has created a stable government capable of encouraging investor confidence. He also acknowledged the opposition’s role.
“With Warisan serving as a strong opposition bloc, the government will benefit from necessary checks and balances,” he said.
