Youngest MP P. Prabakaran: The 'Batu' in BN's Shoes

In Malay, the idiom bidan terjun refers to situation where a bidan (midwife) who fills in as a stand-in to deliver a baby. The bidan was an unknown 22-year-old Jalan Ipoh resident who had the gall to offer himself to contest the Batu parliamentary constituency on an Independent ticket.

Batu incumbent from GE13 was Tian Chua, the wildly popular parliamentarian who was ready to re-contest the seat under the Pakatan Harapan ticket.

However, Tian Chua did not make it past the nomination stage as he was considered an ineligible candidate due to a strict interpretation of the status resulting from a past conviction arising from a court proceeding.

Cries of foul play were splashed all over much of the alternative media and became the rage in Whatsapp chatter.

But Prabakaran who had successfully made it to the candidates’ list on nomination day was at the right place at the right time. The party quickly formed a strategic alliance with Prabakaran, a grounded and hardworking law student who identifies none other than Tien Chua himself as his inspiration and mentor. His entry into the arena certainly put paid to Barisan Nasional from snatching an undeserved victory. The rest, as they say, is history – he nearly doubled Tian Chua’s majority in GE13 to 24,438 votes.

Being one of the most dynamic areas of development in Kuala Lumpur, with a good mix of traditional small businesses and glitzy multi-million Ringgit developments sharing equal space, a lot is expected of this young lad who is in the final leg of his tertiary education.

But the fact is, he was thrust into the limelight under abnormal circumstances and whilst he finds his footing in the new role he is to assume now as MP, his constituents and the country in general will now have to get to know him concurrently.

Yes, he is backed by the party, and some may presume that he lives in the shadow of the older statesman, but a chat with Prabakaran quickly shows us that he has his own agenda, all clearly outlined in his manifesto, and is determined to see it through.

His game plan is set, and he has a team comprising of party advisors and a coterie of his old mates who shares his vision.