Lo Mei-ling
{{short description|Taiwanese politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Loh Meei-ling
| native_name = {{nobold|羅美玲}}
| native_name_lang = zh-tw
| honorific-suffix = MLY
| image =
| imagesize =
| smallimage = 羅美玲委員 (第11屆).jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2024
| constituency = Party-list
| order = Member of the Legislative Yuan
| term_start = 1 February 2020
| term_end =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| order2 =
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|5|1|df=y}}
| birth_place = Malacca, Malaysia
| party = Democratic Progressive Party (since 2018)
Independent (2014–2018)
| nationality = Taiwanese
| profession = Educator
| education = National Taiwan Normal University (BA)
Providence University (MBA)
National Changhua University of Education (PhD)
}}
Loh Meei-ling{{Cite web |last=立法院 |date=2013-07-23 |title=立法院 |url=https://www.ly.gov.tw/EngPages/List.aspx?nodeid=43568 |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=立法院 |language=zh-tw}} ({{zh|t=羅美玲}}; born 1 May 1969) is a Malaysian-born Taiwanese politician and educator. She was a member of the Nantou County Council from 2014 to 2020, when she was elected to the 10th Legislative Yuan. Lo followed Lin Li-chan as the second {{ill|Taiwanese new immigrants|zh|臺灣新住民|lt=immigrant to Taiwan}} to serve as a member of the Legislative Yuan.
Personal life and education
Lo was born in Malaysia on 1 May 1969.{{cite news |title=4號 羅美玲 |url=https://election.ltn.com.tw/2020/legislator/candidates/All/306 |access-date=7 September 2022 |language=zh}} She attended Pay Fong Middle School before immigrating to Taiwan in 1987 to enroll in the Department of Geography at National Taiwan Normal University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in the subject.{{cite news |title=2020 Elections: 'New immigrants' are campaigning for change |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2020/01/11/2003729079 |access-date=7 September 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=11 January 2020}} Lo then earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Providence University and a Ph.D. in finance from the National Changhua University of Education.{{cite news |title=Lo Mei-ling (10) |url=https://www.ly.gov.tw/EngPages/List.aspx?nodeid=43568 |access-date=7 September 2022 |agency=Legislative Yuan}} She acquired Taiwanese citizenship through marriage to a Taiwanese national.{{cite news |last1=Pan |first1=Jason |title=2020 Elections: DPP women tout party’s strides in gender equality |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2020/01/08/2003728904 |access-date=7 September 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=8 January 2020}}
Political career
Lo was elected to the Nantou County Council for the first time in 2014, as a political independent. She joined the Democratic Progressive Party for the 2018 election cycle, and was reelected. As a member of the county council, she advocated for the elderly living in low-income households.{{cite news |last1=Hsieh |first1=Chieh-yu |last2=Chin |first2=Jonathan |title=Nantou councilors accuse county of poor budgeting |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2018/03/26/2003690070 |access-date=7 September 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=26 March 2018}} In November 2019, she was ranked fourth on the DPP party list, and won election to the 10th Legislative Yuan via proportional representation.{{cite news |last1=Yang |first1=Chun-hui |last2=Hsiao |first2=Sherry |title=DPP sets its legislator-at-large list |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/11/15/2003725880 |access-date=7 September 2022 |date=15 November 2019}}
In May 2020, Lo advocated for stricter laws on fire safety.{{cite news |last1=Hsiao |first1=Sherry |title=Lawmakers call for tougher laws |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2020/05/05/2003735852 |access-date=7 September 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=5 May 2020}} In November of that year, she founded a coalition to offer support for immigrants to Taiwan.{{cite news |last1=Huang |first1=Hsin-po |last2=Pan |first2=Jason |title='New residents' coalition launched |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2020/11/21/2003747313 |access-date=7 September 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=21 November 2020}} In March 2021, Lo proposed that rescue services operate on a user-pay principle to dissuade unprepared tourists from visiting mountainous areas.{{cite news |last1=Chien |first1=Hui-ju |last2=Jonathan |first2=Chin |title=Fees for rescues caused by neglect mulled |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/03/13/2003753756 |access-date=7 September 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=13 March 2021}} In August 2021, she drew attention to suicide rates among adolescents, and advised that the Ministry of Education employ more guidance counselors as part of its suicide prevention efforts.{{cite news |last1=Hsiao |first1=Sherry |title=MOE must re-evaluate suicide prevention: lawmakers |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/08/26/2003763261 |access-date=7 September 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=26 August 2021}} That same month, she held a joint press conference regarding animal welfare and living conditions at pet shops and breeders.{{cite news |last1=Yang |first1=Cheng-yu |last2=Hetherington |first2=William |title=DPP lawmakers call for improvement of new pet contracts |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/08/25/2003763204 |access-date=7 September 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=25 August 2021}} In October 2021, Lo proposed a basic law regarding the low birth rate in Taiwan.{{cite news |last1=Chien |first1=Hui-ju |last2=Madjar |first2=Kayleigh |title=Lawmakers propose bill to tackle declining birthrate |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/10/06/2003765624 |access-date=7 September 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=6 October 2021}} She continued advocating for children, expressing concern in the following month that the internet made minors more susceptible to sexual exploitation and abuse.{{cite news |last1=Yang |first1=Cheng-yu |last2=Chung |first2=Jake |title=Stronger child abuse curbs urged |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/11/20/2003768186 |access-date=7 September 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=20 November 2021}} In March 2022, Lo suggested that Article 31 of the Laws and Regulations Regarding Hong Kong & Macau Affairs be amended to prevent Chinese companies from claiming foreign or Hong Kong funding while doing business in Taiwan.{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Yu-fu |last2=Liu |first2=Tzu-hsuan |title=Lawmakers call for Hong Kong, Macau law to be changed |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2022/03/24/2003775376 |access-date=7 September 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=24 March 2022}} During the 2022 Taiwanese local elections, she led the DPP campaign messaging efforts targeting immigrants and naturalized citizens.{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Cheng-yu |last2=Pan |first2=Jason |title=DPP mobilizes campaign teams |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2022/08/28/2003784298 |access-date=7 September 2022 |date=28 August 2022}}
Lo was the fifth candidate listed on the DPP party list for the 2024 legislative election cycle.{{cite news |last1=Wen |first1=Kuei-hsiang |last2=Yeh |first2=Su-ping |last3=Yang |first3=Evelyn |title=ELECTION 2024/Children's rights activist tops DPP legislator-at-large list |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202311150020 |access-date=16 November 2023 |agency=Central News Agency |date=15 November 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Yun |last2=Pan |first2=Jason |title=DPP unveils legislator-at-large list, with Kuma Academy’s Puma Shen |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/11/16/2003809253 |access-date=16 November 2023 |work=Taipei Times |date=16 November 2023}} In the 11th Legislative Yuan, Lo established the Taiwan-Malaysia Inter-Parliamentary Amity Group and an association advocating for the rights of {{ill|Taiwanese new immigrants|zh|臺灣新住民|lt=new immigrants to Taiwan}}.{{cite news |last1=Yang |first1=Cheng-yu |last2=Chin |first2=Jonathan |title=DPP lawmakers launch Asian amity associations |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2024/02/21/2003813856 |access-date=21 February 2024 |work=Taipei Times |date=21 February 2024}}
References
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Category:Malaysian emigrants to Taiwan
Category:Naturalized citizens of Taiwan
Category:National Taiwan Normal University alumni
Category:Democratic Progressive Party Members of the Legislative Yuan
Category:Politicians of the Republic of China on Taiwan from Nantou County
Category:21st-century Taiwanese women politicians
Category:Members of the 10th Legislative Yuan