A TOTAL of 12 new faces from various backgrounds have been appointed as the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) councillors for the 2023 – 2024 term.
Their appointments take effect from today (Oct 1) until Dec 31, 2024.
The newcomers were among the 23 councillors who took part in a swearing-in ceremony at the City Hall in Esplanade this morning.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who witnessed the swearing-in ceremony, congratulated all the selected councillors.
“Out of the 23 councillors, 12 of them are new faces while the remaining 11 were the existing councillors who have been retained for another term.
“On behalf of the state, I welcome their appointments and I hope they would serve the locals diligently and are committed to ensuring Penang moves to a greater height.
“Bridging the connection between the state and the people, the councillors play a responsible role in delivering their services,” said Chow in his speech before witnessing the swearing-in ceremony of MBPP councillors.
Chow also thanked both long-timer councillors Harvinder Singh and Datuk Francis Joseph for their services to the council.
All the councillors who were sworn in today aged between 24 and 61.
Chow expressed his hopes that the new councillors would continue to strive their best to achieve the goal of the state’s Penang2030 vision.
“As I have stated before, I would continue to deliver my best for the state by bringing in more infrastructure projects for the betterment of Penangites,” he added.
State Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jason H’ng lauded the appointment of the 23 councillors.
“The state has always been prioritising the efforts of both the city councils, MBPP and the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) to increase the quality of life of the community.
“Many projects that would benefit the people are in the pipeline,” he said.
When asked about the nominations for the Umno representatives, H’ng said they would likely submit the appointment of the three representatives this week.
“One of them is to be appointed as a MBPP councillor while the other two are to fill up the MBSP councillors’ slots.
“Under the regulations, a council can be formed once it has eight councillors,” he added.
MBPP mayor Datuk A. Rajendran, in his speech, extended his heartfelt gratitude to the councillors’ appointments.
Among those present were Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Dr Mohammad Abdul Hamid, Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo, State Secretary Datuk Mohd Sayuthi Bakar and state assemblymen.
The list of councillors sworn in today is as follows:
1. Alan Lim Wei Lun (DAP)
2. Benji Ang Ming Quan (DAP) – New
3. Choong You Ray (DAP) – New
4. Koay Gaik Kee (Gueno) (DAP) – New
5. Lee Seng Hwai (DAP) – New
6. Quah Boon Lim (DAP)
7. Rohaizat Hamid (DAP)
8. Tan Soo Siang (DAP)
9. Theng Jie Wey (DAP)
10. Vickneson a/l Rajendran (Soresh) (DAP) – New
11. Abdul Latif Mohamad (PKR)
12. Chan Soon Aun (PKR) – New
13. Tan Chiew Choon (PKR)
14. Mohd Suhairi Arumugam Abdullah (PKR)
15. Hari Krishnan a/l Ramakrishnan (PKR)
16. Shafiz Rahim Raja (PKR) – New
17. Mohd Roshidi Roslan (PKR) – New
18. Ooi Mei Mei (PKR) – New
19. Mohd Hafiz Abd Aziz (Amanah)
20. Mohd Faruk Abdul Rahman (Amanah)
21. Saiful Azwan Abd Malik (Amanah) – New
22. Bakar Noordin (Amanah) – New
23. David Chen Wooi Teong (NGO) – New
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar
Video by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis