PRABAKARAN Parameswaran is now the youngest parliamentarian in the 14th general election (GE14) for the Batu constituency.

Born on February 8, 1996, in Sentul, Prabakaran is the fourth generation in his family to live in Sentul where his grandfather used to work as a signalman for the national train service Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM).

The youngest in a family of four, he decided to run as an independent candidate for the Batu constituency to “reach out to youths and create social awareness about politics”.

But little did he know that on April 28, 2018, he was suddenly thrown into the political limelight after two-term Batu MP Chua Tian Chang was disqualified over a fine of RM2,000.

“After that, I got this opportunity to work with Pakatan Harapan (PH), to endorse me, so now I’m here,” he said.

Prabakaran is currently in his second year of pursuing a 3+0 law degree at Brickfields Asia College, which he hopes to juggle well with his parliamentary work.

He said he was raised to always put his family first especially his 55-year-old father, who is a property consultant, whom he is very close to and looks up to.

Prabakaran stressed that despite being endorsed by PH, he would remain an independent for now.

“People have been asking me, ‘Why you so young, how capable are you to serve the public, you no experience and exposure, with this how are you going to survive in Parliament?’

“I answer them age is not a barrier when you venture into politics. When you become a leader, age is not a factor when serving the people.

“If I come and ask you if you need help, do I ask your age first?” – May 9, 2018.