New Barisan Nasional (BN) parliamentarian Linda Tsen Thau Lin took her oath of office today in the Dewan Rakyat.

The Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) deputy Wanita chief for Elopura division took her oath before Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia.

NONE Tsen ( right ) bagged 9,773 votes defeating PKR’s Ansari Abdullah and Sabah Progressive Party’s (SAPP) Yong Teck Lee.

 

The 54-year-old part time music teacher is the widow of former Batu Sapi MP Edmund Chong Ket Wah, who died after his 750cc motorcycle was involved in an accident with a car on Oct 9.

A by-election was then called for the parliamentary constituency on Nov 4.

Tsen and Chong have four children - daughters Jamie Chong Sing Yi, 23, Charlene Chong Tze Yi,  20, and Steffi Chong Han Yi, 18 and son Douglas Chong Zheng Yi, 13.

Pandikar conveyed his best wishes to the new member of parliament and hoped that she would discharge her duties well.

NONE Also welcoming Tsen was Seri Gading BN MP Mohamad Aziz on behalf of the BN Backbenchers Club (BNBBC).

“Is it because they lost so badly at Batu Sapi that they want to boycott?” he asked, mocking PKR MPs who were mostly absent today.

Bukit Mertajam DAP MP Chong Eng also greeted Tsen warmly on behalf of Pakatan Rakyat MPs and from the rank of other lady parliamentarians.

Met at the Parliament lobby, Tsen told reporters that she is “prepared for challenges ahead”.

“(I have) mixed feelings, sitting where my husband sat. (It’s a) big challenge ahead of me, a big responsibility on my shoulders. But I am prepared for it,” she said.

NONE Although looking slightly disconcerted, Tsen seemed prepared to take up her new duties.

“I guess for me, I want to continue with my husband’s work. I have to get down to the ground and find out what the people want and voice out for them.

“I am new, I am inexperienced, I have a lot to learn, a lot to catch up. I am prepared to take up the challenge,” she reiterated.

Asked about her mission for her rural constituency, she said: “I think basically the people they want continue development. The fact that they voted for BN in the by-election shows they want continuous development.”

VIDEO | 1.51 mins