KOTA KINABALU: Dr Roland Chia yesterday announced through his Facebook and Twitter postings that he will resign as Inanam assemblyman for health reasons.
“Due to health reasons, I will step down as Adun Inanam. I thank the Inanam voters and party leadership for ur (your) support over last 17 mths (months),” the message went.
Reporters were unable to reach Chia for further information on the online statement made via his Twitter account.
Later during the day, his political secretary, Darren Tong created a Whatapp account entitled ‘YB Dr Roland Chia’.
Tong mentioned that Chia was presently overseas but did not provide any information as to where he was presently.
“I hope can let him rest during this trip,” he told reporters.
Asked if Chia was on board a flight presently, Tong replied ‘maybe’.
A close aide of Chia who asked for anonymity said that he has been unwell and that he has mentioned about stepping down.
The aide also mentioned that Chia could not be reached on his hand phone.
The announcement caught his fellow PKR colleagues by surprise who said they were unaware of his decision.
Sabah PKR chief Datuk Lajim Ukin said he had been unable to contact Dr Chia since being made aware of his (Chia’s) Facebook and Twitter postings.
Lajim said he had spoken to the Inanam PKR deputy division chief who told him that Dr Chia had not informed them of his intention to step down.
“At this time, I cannot rule out the possibility of Chia’s Facebook and Twitter accounts being hacked,” he added.
Party vice-president Darell Leiking, the Penampang MP, when contacted said he was also unaware of Chia’s intention to resign as assemblyman.
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.
Meanwhile, PKR secretary general Rafizi Ramli said he was informed that Dr Chia has been having medical problems, although it could not be confirmed what he was suffering from.
“Until I get in contact with him myself, I cannot confirm whether he has resigned or not,” said Rafizi.
The PKR vice-president said, “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 and reiterated that he could not confirm whether the Inanam assemblyman’s decision to resign was final until he had spoken to him personally.
Dr Roland won his Inanam seat in the last state polls with a majority of 3,202 votes against Datuk Eric Majimbun of SAPP, and BN-PBS Joseph Lantip.
He was last seen attending a Christmas function in Inanam on Monday and was reported by those there to be in good spirits and health.
So far attempts to get Dr Roland to respond have failed.