Counting on Teresa Kok to do the job

KUALA LUMPUR: Teresa Kok Suh Sim needs no introduction. Being the Seputeh MP since 1999 and having won her seat with an even higher majority every time, in the five terms she's contested in the constituency, is an extraordinary feat.
Her first outing earned her a vote majority of 5,200 while the latest as a Pakatan Harapan candidate in the 14th General Election (GE 14) last month, was by 56,059 votes.
In fact, Kok had on two occasions in 2008 and 2013, earned the title "giant killer" for winning the Seputeh seat with the largest majority in the country.
Born on March 31, 1964, Kok who is DAP secretary-general, had her early education at Sekolah Menengah Kuen Cheng, here, after which she went to Chung Hwa High School in Seremban, Negri Sembilan.
She earned her first degree at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and her second degree in political science and philosophy at Universiti Malaya (UM).
The Kuala Lumpur native's foray into politics started in the early 1990s when she was political secretary to DAP chief and then opposition leader Lim Kit Siang.
Kok was fielded as a candidate in 1995 contesting the Ipoh Barat parliamentary constituency but lost to the MCA candidate.
The defeat made her only more determined to make her presence felt especially at grassroots level and in 1999, she was selected to contest the Seputeh Parliamentary seat which she won.
However, it was GE12 that finally sealed her position not only as as "giant killer", but as a political giant in her own right. It was a stamp of approval and massive support from her constituents.
As an elected representative Kok has made it a point to voice her views and concerns that affect her constituency and the nation.
She is known to be persistent often seeking answers and solutions to previous and current issues at Dewan Rakyat sessions.
Unafraid to stand up and speak on matters that are close to her heart, she has been sometimes the bane and target of ruling coalition MPs during previous parliamentary proceedings, under the earlier government. — Bernama