PKR trying to contact Inanam rep over alleged resignation

(The Star) – PKR is trying to contact Inanam assemblyman Dr Roland Chia, who is currently overseas, on his reported resignation.

Party vice-president Rafizi Ramli said they were trying to contact Dr Chia to obtain more information on the status of his health, which the latter claimed to be the reason for his resignation.

“I have contacted the Sabah PKR leadership and YB Dr Chia’s officers, who have confirmed that he has some health problems.

“However, we cannot confirm the exact status of his health,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

Rafizi, who is also PKR secretary-general, added that he could not confirm whether the Inanam assemblyman’s decision to resign was final until he had spoken to him personally.

Dr Chia caused a stir among political circles in Sabah when he announced in a Facebook and Twitter posting on Wednesday that he was stepping down from his seat due to health reasons.

The short announcement, which did not include any further explanation, caught his PKR colleagues by surprise.

PKR vice-president and Penampang MP Derrel Leiking said he was unaware of Dr Chia’s intention to resign as assemblyman.

Sabah PKR chief Datuk Lajim Ukin said he too tried and failed to contact Dr Chia since being made aware of his social media postings.

Dr Chia, a dental surgeon by profession, won the Inanam seat for the first time in the May 5 general election last year with a 3,202 vote majority in a three-way fight.

He secured 8,926 ballots while Barisan Nasional’s Joseph Paulus Lantip of Parti Bersatu Sabah obtained 5,724 votes and Eric Majimbun of the Sabah Progressive Party received 5,003 votes.