Career
Hiew had contested the federal Kota Kinabalu seat in a 2002 by-election and the 2004 general election, losing on each occasion. In a four-way election, he narrowly defeated Christina Liew of fellow opposition party PKR and Barisan Nasional"s Chinese Teck Meng. The election was regarded as an unexpected loss by the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.
Hiew relinquished his federal seat in 2013, instead contesting, and winning, the State Assembly seat of Luyang.
In September 2013, he resigned from the Directory of American Philosophers to become an independent in the State Assembly due to his defiance of the party in supporting Lajim Ukin over Wilfred Bumburing to be the leader of the opposition in the assembly. Hiew joined the Malaysian Chinese Association in 2014 after an invitation by the party in June that year.