YOUNGEST MP - The Sun

April 27, 2008

YOUNGEST MP

Among the youngest is 27-year-old Teo Nie Ching (DAP-Serdang).

Tabling a Private Member’s Bill on Freedom of Information (FOI) will be her first priority. The first-timer said the Bill may not be passed, but it would be an opportunity to educate the public on the importance of having an FOI Bill.

"Civil society groups have been campaigning for legislation on FOI to promote greater transparency and accountability, especially in the public service.

Currently, there is limited access for the public to information, especially to government documents as they are often classified as "secret" under the Official Secrets Act (OSA)," she said.

Teo, a lawyer, would also like to push for local council elections. "But our main focus now is to finalise the FOI. If we put too many bills at one time, people will lose focus," she said.

She will also raise issues of public interest such as the building of vernacular schools, highway contracts, repeal of the Internal Security Act and the Universities and University Colleges Act.

Teo, who was dubbed "Serdang Cili Padi" due to her fiery oratory skills while on the election campaign trail, feels it is not going to be easy for her to stand out and get noticed in Parliament as she would be among many other good orators.

She also believes a parliamentarian should put the people’s interest before anything else, including the party’s interest.

"Yes, we should protect the party’s interest. But, if the party is trying to control us, then I don’t think there is any meaning in becoming an MP. I don’t think I want to let the people down," she said.

On Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Teo said Anwar was the crucial factor in helping the opposition "pass the election with flying colours".

However, she does not deny that there are many who do not trust him.

"To me, we should appreciate him for his role in helping our country reach a two-party system. For those who do not trust him, they should judge him later should he come into power," she added.