Youngest MP hopes to be a role model

KUALA LUMPUR: As the youngest ever MP in Malaysia, Independent candidate P. Prabakaran wants to be a role model for youths.

“I hope my victory will be an example for youths to be more actively invol­ved in politics.

“Through this participation, I would like to see more youths contesting in the next general election,” he said.

Prabakaran, 22, said he would start an awareness movement within PKR.

His victory saw him erasing the record held by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for 42 years when he became MP at the age of 23 in 1976.

The law student beat Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Dr Dominic Lau by 24,438 votes.

Prabakaran, who initially stood as an Independent, was endorsed by the PKR leadership to stand in for the party after Tian Chua, the Batu incumbent, was disqualified from contesting.

The battle in Batu was four-cornered. Dr Lau, who is also Gerakan vice-president, obtained 13,687 votes, while Batu PAS chief Azhar Yahya managed to get 10,610.

Another Independent candidate, Datuk Panjamorthy Muthusamy, obtained just 383 votes.

Prabakaran said he was glad that PKR had given him the platform to stand as a PKR representative.

“The party trusted me to hold the fort for them. I will not abuse this trust and betray them,” he said.

He said he had also asked Tian Chua to be his mentor and guide him to be a good politician.

“I am still green. I need a mentor and Chua has agreed to take me under his wing. I am glad I can learn from him, an experienced and seasoned politician,” said Prabakaran.