Kota Kinabalu: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Kota Kinabalu Division Chief Grace Lee Li Mei said she will leave it to the party’s Central Leadership Council to decide who will be fielded in the coming 17th State Election.
This follows after several party members recently expressed their intention publicly to contest in the Api-Api constituency, ignoring her position as the division chief.
“But this is part of the democratic process, and the final decision still comes from the party president, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,” said Lee, who has 15 years of experience in politics.
She said this after attending the nationwide “Living with Dignity in Old Age” awareness campaign at the Nacscom Koat Day Centre in Luyang.
The campaign, organised by Empati Malaysia, aims to raise public awareness of issues affecting the elderly and to promote respect and protection for senior citizens.
“If the party’s central council deems me suitable, I am ready to run at any time. But no matter what the result is, I will support the party’s decision,” she added.
Having defeated incumbent Datuk Seri Christina Liew in the division election held in April this year, Lee now stands the highest chance of being selected as a candidate.
Following her victory, she called on all party members to close ranks, strengthen the party, and foster cooperation ahead of the election.
Lee said she had been active on the ground to meet and serve the people, as results speak louder than words.
She recalled that during her tenure as the head of the Community Development Leader Unit (UPPM) in Kota Kinabalu since 2018, she actively helped address livelihood issues and gained an in-depth understanding of local affairs.
Lee is particularly concerned about the ageing problem in Kota Kinabalu and plans to set up a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to assist the elderly in seeking medical treatment and obtaining medicines.
“There are many elderly people living alone in Kota Kinabalu. It’s not that they don’t have money, but they lack mobility support. I hope to form a team to help them overcome these daily difficulties,” she said.
Lee said that since joining PKR in 2009, she has never left the party and has always remained true to her original political intention of serving the people.
“I have never joined any other political party and have always been loyal to PKR. My goal is not personal gain, but the hope that the country and its people will continue to progress,” she said.
Lee believes that competition is normal, adding: “Political competition in the Api-Api constituency is fierce, but the key is who can truly serve the people.”The man was discovered lifeless inside the parked Nissan Almera near the mosque.
