BACK in 2006/2007, I had a short stint with BarackObama.com team in Washington DC, a website dedicated to the US presidential hopeful Bar-ack Obama.

The team that runs the website consists of a bunch of 20 young professionals.

I was with them under the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship.

When I was with them, we had discussions on how to use online platforms such as blogs, social networking sites and websites for political advocacy and civil society activism.

The online platform has proven to be very effective in reaching the targeted audience - young tech-savvy youth.
Looking at this development, I want to do the same here. This is one of my challenges as a young MP. I want to get youth to be interested in politics. Right now, they all think that politics is a big bore.

I want to make Parliament interesting to youth.

To me, serious matters can be made more interesting, it depends on how one approaches the topics.

The challenge for me is how to capitalise on current technological advances and subjects which are of interest to the young and incorporate them into parliament proceedings. Another challenge is to change Parliament tradition - from a misunderstood institution to something more people-friendly.

For example, I don't drive. I take the public transport, either cabs or buses, to Parliament and they always asked me the same question: "Boleh pergi Parlimen kah?" (Can go to Parliament?)

This shows that Parliament is detached from them.

I believe Parliament's image needs to be rebranded to ensure that it is close to the people's heart.

I would like to explore the possibility of using Parliament not only as a policy-making body, but as a learning institution and social innovator - change some of the archaic legacies and incorporate local culture.

I feel MPs must go back to basics. Be people-oriented leaders.

At the end of the day, the YB label will not carry any meaning if you are not relevant to the people.