Liew (second right) receiving The Most Outstanding Woman Award from Juliah, while. Susan (left) and Datin Seri Stella Yong look on.
KOTA KINABALU: Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew has been named The Most Outstanding Woman by the United Sabah Chinese Communities Association of Kota Kinabalu (USCCAKK) in conjunction with the International Women’s Day celebration this year.
The three-term Api-Api Assemblywoman received The Most Outstanding Woman Award from the wife of the Chief Minister, Datin Seri Juliah Salag who was the guest of honour at the International Women’s Day celebration themed “Women Make the World Beautiful” at the Sabah Hakka Hall here yesterday.
USCCAKK President Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen said the much-coveted award is in recognition of the Minister’s significant contributions to Malaysian society, State and nation.
Describing Liew as a “role model” and an “iconic well-rounded woman” to Malaysian women in Sabah, Wong said the former MP for Tawau will go down in history as the first Chinese woman to be appointed Deputy Chief Minister in 2018.
“Liew’s positive attributes of determination, perseverance, diligence and resilience are a source of inspiration to aspiring women out there.
“I spotted her propensity for helping people even before she became an elected representative in 2013. Liew is an individual, who is optimistic and persistent, and will not give up easily as reflected in the inherent ups and downs of her political journey since the 1980s.
“We are happy that she has made a comeback as Tourism Minister after a lapse of two years. She is regarded as the right person for the portfolio,” said Wong.
The USCCAKK President said the younger generation of women may not be aware that Liew became the first Chinese woman to contest in a parliamentary election when she stood in Tawau in the 1986 Parliamentary Election.
“She was an active and dynamic woman leader even in her younger days,” Wong added.
“On record, Liew founded the Tawau Chinese Women Association in 1989, and spearheaded the formation of several similar associations. This paved the path for the inauguration of the Sabah United Chinese Women Association (SUCWA) in 1995. Subsequently, she headed SUCWA as its Founder President (1996-1998), and was instrumental in setting up the Confederation of Sabah and Sarawak Federations of Chinese Women Associations as Protem Deputy President in 1996 before helming the organisation as President and then Honorary President until the early years of the New Millennium.”
When interviewed, lawyer-turned politician Liew, who founded the Society of Hope Kota Kinabalu, Sabah in 2007, said she was deeply honoured by the kind gesture of the United Sabah Chinese Communities Association of Kota Kinabalu (USCCAKK) led by (Datuk) Susan.
“I would like to share this accolade with women from the Tionghua and other communities.
“Women empowerment through education and training, coupled with an unwavering commitment to one’s endeavour, is a powerful tool for us to break the glass ceiling and move on to a new stage of our lives.
“Multitasking women can jointly rule the world (alongside their supportive male counterparts) if they (women) are confident, focused, meticulous, and believe in their abilities,” said Liew who practised law for 20 years prior to her appointment as Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister in 2018.
From her observation, Malaysian women in Sabah have made great strides, be it in the State Civil Service or private sector ranging from business, trade, information technology (IT), construction and property development to agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, health and wellness and other economic sectors.
