Yang Berhormat Puan
Teo Nie Ching
MP
张念群
Teo in 2019
Deputy Minister of Communications
Assumed office
12 December 2023
MonarchsAbdullah
(2023–2024)
Ibrahim Iskandar
(since 2024)
Prime MinisterAnwar Ibrahim
MinisterFahmi Fadzil
Preceded byHerself
(Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital)
ConstituencyKulai
Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital
In office
10 December 2022 – 12 December 2023
MonarchAbdullah
Prime MinisterAnwar Ibrahim
MinisterFahmi Fadzil
Preceded byZahidi Zainul Abidin
(Deputy Minister of Communications and Multimedia)
Succeeded byHerself
(Deputy Minister of Communications)
Wilson Ugak Kumbong
(Deputy Minister of Digital)
ConstituencyKulai
Deputy Minister of Education
In office
2 July 2018 – 24 February 2020
MonarchsMuhammad V
(2018–2019)
Abdullah
(2019–2020)
Prime MinisterMahathir Mohamad
MinisterMaszlee Malik
(2018–2020)
Mahathir Mohamad
(Acting, 2020)
Preceded byP. Kamalanathan
(Deputy Minister of Education I)
Chong Sin Woon
(Deputy Minister of Education II)
Mary Yap Kain Ching
(Deputy Minister of Higher Education)
Succeeded byMah Hang Soon
(Deputy Minister of Education I)
Muslimin Yahaya
(Deputy Minister of Education II)
Mansor Othman
(Deputy Minister of Higher Education)
ConstituencyKulai
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Kulai
Assumed office
5 May 2013
Preceded byOng Ka Ting
(BN–MCA)
Majority13,450 (2013)
32,748 (2018)
36,023 (2022)
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Serdang
In office
8 March 2008 – 5 May 2013
Preceded byYap Pian Hon
(BN–MCA)
Succeeded byOng Kian Ming
(PR–DAP)
Majority21,025 (2008)
Women Chief of the
Democratic Action Party
Assumed office
9 September 2023
DeputyYeo Bee Yin
Secretary-GeneralAnthony Loke Siew Fook
Preceded byChong Eng
National Publicity Secretary
of the Democratic Action Party
Assumed office
20 March 2022
Secretary-GeneralAnthony Loke Siew Fook
AssistantHannah Yeoh Tseow Suan
Ganabatirau Veraman
Preceded byTony Pua Kiam Wee
International Secretary
of the Democratic Action Party
In office
12 November 2017 – 20 March 2022
Secretary-GeneralLim Guan Eng
Succeeded byJannie Lasimbang
Assistant National Publicity Secretary of the Democratic Action Party
In office
2008–2011
Secretary-GeneralLim Guan Eng
Preceded byFong Po Kuan
Assistant State Organising Secretary
of the Democratic Action Party
of Selangor
In office
2008–2011
Personal details
Born
Teo Nie Ching

(1981-01-27) 27 January 1981 (age 43)
Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Political partyDemocratic Action Party (DAP)
Other political
affiliations		Pakatan Rakyat (PR)
(2008–2015)
Pakatan Harapan (PH)
(since 2015)
Spouse
Gan Saw Chien
​
(m. 2011)​
Children3
Alma materUniversity of the West of England
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionLawyer

Teo Nie Ching (simplified Chinese: 张念群; traditional Chinese: 張念群; pinyin: Zhāng Niànqún; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tioⁿ Liām-kûn; born 27 January 1981) is a Malaysian politician and lawyer who has served as the Deputy Minister of Communications under Minister Fahmi Fadzil since December 2023 and previously served as the Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital, also under Minister Fahmi Fadzil from December 2022 to December 2023 in the Unity Government administration under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. She had served as Deputy Minister of Education in the PH administration under former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, former Minister Maszlee Malik and former Acting Minister Mahathir from July 2018 to the collapse of the PH administration in February 2020. She served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Serdang from March 2008 to May 2013 and then the MP for Kulai since May 2013. She is a member of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a component party of the PH coalition. She has also served as the Women Chief of DAP since September 2023 and National Publicity Secretary of DAP since March 2022. She also served as International Secretary of DAP from November 2017 to March 2022, Assistant National Publicity Secretary of DAP and Assistant State Organising Secretary of DAP of Selangor from 2008 to 2011.

Personal life

Teo was born to a political family. Her father was Secretary of the Labis Campaign Committee of DAP, while her sister and brother-in-law were Chief and Deputy Chair of the DAPSY Johor State Council.[1]

Teo completed her secondary school education in Chinese High School, Batu Pahat, Johor. She pursued her tertiary education under a twinning programme and obtained her law degree from the University of the West of England, in 2002. After graduating from the university, she spent one year to work as a librarian in UK and travel around Europe. In 2004, she received her Certificate in Legal Practice from the University of Malaya.[2]

Political career

Prior to the GE-14, Teo recorded a video promising to recognize Malaysia Chinese independent high school Unified Examination Certificate once Pakatan Harapan formed the federal government.

Deputy Minister of Education (2018-2020)

As a Chinese-ethnic, and being appointed as the deputy minister of education, Teo is urged by MCA to fulfill her promise and strengthen the Chinese education.[3] Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik confirmed that Pakatan Harapan will stick to its manifesto and recognise the UEC as a legitimate entry requirement for tertiary studies.[4] However, there is no specific timeline set for this manifesto to be fulfilled.[5]

Deputy Minister of Communications (2022-)

On 30 October 2023, Teo has told organisers of foreign artistes concert to create a ‘Kill Switch’ to avoid repeating the incident by The 1975 at Good Vibes Festival 2023.[6]

Controversies and issues

On 25 July 2019, Sin Chew Daily in the Chinese newspaper front-paged that next year's Standard 4 Bahasa Malaysia syllabus will contain six pages of introduction to what the Jawi script in all vernacular schools. Following the rejection from NGOs such as Dong Zong, the cabinet approved that the Ministry of Education to allow vernacular schools teaching only Jawi script as a basic level, and not khat calligraphy with the consent of the students, parents as well as each school's Parent Teacher Association (PTA).[7]

Election results

In the 2008 general election, Teo ran for the Parliamentary seat of Serdang on a DAP ticket.[8] She won against the candidate from Barisan Nasional, Datuk Hoh Hee Lee, with a majority of 21,025 votes. She obtained 47,444 votes comparing to her opposing candidate who only collected 26,419 votes.[9]

In the 2013 general election, Teo switched to the state of Johor, in the Barisan Nasional stronghold Kulai, and defeated their candidate Tay Chin Hein by 13,450 out of 43,338 votes.[10]

In the 2017 DAP re-elections, Teo received 1080 votes and was appointed International Secretary.[11]

In the 2018 general election, Teo reelected for the Parliamentary seat of Kulai in the state of Johor. She defeated her 2 opponents, Tang Nai Soon (MCA) and Juwahir Amin (PAS) by 32,748 (64.68%, up 6.9%) out of 55,312 votes majority.

Parliament of Malaysia[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]
Year Constituency Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
2008 P102 Serdang, Selangor Teo Nie Ching (DAP) 47,444 62.23% Hoh Hee Lee (MCA) 26,419 34.65% 76,236 21,025 80.40%
2013 P163 Kulai, Johor Teo Nie Ching (DAP) 43,338 57.78% Tay Chin Hein (MCA) 29,888 39.85% 75,010 13,450 89.30%
K. Surendiran (IND) 238 0.32%
2018 Teo Nie Ching (DAP) 55,312 64.68% Tang Nai Soon (MCA) 22,564 26.38% 85,519 32,748 86.30%
Juwahir Amin (PAS) 6,667 7.80%
2022 Teo Nie Ching (DAP) 65,529 56.86% Chua Jian Boon (MCA) 29,506 25.60% 115,253 36,023 76.20%
Tan Chen Hok (Gerakan) 20,218 17.54%

Notes and references

  1. ^ 认识张念群 (in Simplified Chinese). 17 February 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  2. ^ "Off The Edge – Boldly Going: Is young DAP set for uncharted territory?". 10 January 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  3. ^ "Fulfil promise to strengthen Chinese education, Teo urged". 5 July 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Maszlee: Pakatan will stick to its manifesto, no u-turn or flip-flop on UEC". 12 July 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Recognition of UEC yet to be decided". 22 March 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  6. ^ "After The 1975's stunt, Communications Ministry orders organisers to create 'kill switch' for foreign artistes' concert". Malay Mail. 30 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Teaching of Jawi in vernacular schools to proceed, subject to PTA consent". 14 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  8. ^ "沙登小辣椒"首度亮相‧張念群為捍衛民主參選. Sinchew (in Traditional Chinese). Sinchew Online. 18 February 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  9. ^ "General Election 2008 Results". TheStar. TheStar Online. 9 March 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  10. ^ "PRU13 Keputusan Terkini". Archived from the original on 23 April 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  11. ^ "DAP re-elections: Who's in, who's out". 12 November 2017.
  12. ^ "Malaysia Decides 2008". The Star (Malaysia). Retrieved 3 January 2010. Results only available from the 2004 election.
  13. ^ "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri". Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 19 June 2010. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
  14. ^ "Malaysia General Election". undiinfo Malaysian Election Data. Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Results only available from the 2004 election.
  15. ^ "KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM 13". Sistem Pengurusan Maklumat Pilihan Raya Umum (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  16. ^ "my undi : Kawasan & Calon-Calon PRU13 : Keputusan PRU13 (Archived copy)". www.myundi.com.my. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  17. ^ "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13". Utusan Malaysia. Archived from the original on 21 March 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  18. ^ "SEMAKAN KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM KE - 14" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 17 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
  19. ^ "The Star Online GE14". The Star. Retrieved 24 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.

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