THE Penang government, through its local councils Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP), today introduced eight new councillors for the 2021 term.
The eight new councillors include five from non-governmental organisations.
The new faces representing MBPP are Lee Chee How (Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce), Shahul Hameed Syed Mohamed (Liga Muslim Pulau Pinang) and Lee Kim Noor (Penang Ratepayers Association).
For MBSP, the new faces are Ng Yee Siang (DAP), Teh Chuann Yien (DAP), Norly Masitah Mohamed Noor (PKR), Tan Bee Hong (Majlis Pusat Kebajikan Semalaysia) and Harryzan Yaakub (Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia Pulau Pinang).
State Housing, Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the appointment of councillors is based on the Local Government Act 1976, and as always, there are 48 appointed councillors from both MBPP and MBSP.
“The MBPP has 10 councillors from DAP, PKR (eight), Amanah (two) and NGO (four), while MBSP has 10 from DAP, PKR (nine), Amanah (two) and NGO (three).
“Out of the 48 councillors, it is encouraging to see seven representatives from the NGOs.
“They are from MPKSM, Penang Forum, Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia Pulau Pinang, PCCC, Liga Muslim Pulau Pinang, Penang Ratepayers Association and Persatuan Belia Infiniti,” Jagdeep told a press conference which was also attended by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow in Komtar today.
Separately, Jagdeep was equally delighted to witness a positive improvement in terms of women’s representation in the councillors’ list this term.
“Last year, the women’s representation stood at 18%, while this year, there has been an increase to 21%.
“Although it is was a slim increment by percentage, it is important to note that there is a change, that too for the better,” Jagdeep added.
Out of the eight new councillors as mentioned earlier, three are women.
In line with a current initiative by the Penang government called Top-Up Women-Only Additional Seats (TWOAS) to increase women’s representation in the state legislative assembly to at least 30%, Jagdeep said it was equally important to give similar heed to the appointment of councillors too.
TWOAS, which was officially announced by Chow on Dec 10 in a press conference in Komtar, is currently led by state Social Development and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Chong Eng.
The full list of councillors from both MBPP and MBSP are as follows:
MBPP
Harvindar Singh, Alan Lim Wei Lun, Rohaizat Hamid, R. Kaliyappan, Lee Wei Seang, Quah Boon Lim, Tan Hooi Peng (Connie), Tan Soo Siang, Theng Jie Wey (Nicholas), Wong Yuee Harng (all DAP); J. Francis, Mohd Suhairi Arumugam Abdullah, Tan Chiew Choon, Abdul Latif Mohamad, Nor Afni Md Yusuff, Ahmad Azrizal Tahir, Tan Seng Keat, Rodziah Abdul Khassim (all PKR); Mohamed Yusoff Mohamed Noor, Muhamad Khairul Mohd Ali (both Amanah); Lee Chee How (Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce), Shahul Hameed Syed Mohamed (Liga Muslim Pulau Pinang), Lee Kim Noor (Penang Ratepayers Association) and R. Hari Krishnan (Persatuan Belia Infiniti).
MBSP
P. David Marshel, Chee Yeeh Keen, Cheen Goon Hooi (Bernard), Heng Yeh Shiuan, K. Jason Raj, Ng Yee Siang (David), Ngoh Cheng Hai (Jeff), Ooi Yong Wooi, Tan Chee Teong, Rachel Teh Chuann Yien (all DAP); Ahmad Rizal Abd Hamid, Fahmi Zainol, Ooi Boon Sheng, Ong Jing Cheng, Anuar Yusoff, Norly Masitah Mohamed Noor, Zainuddin Mohamed, Noor Azuawati Ahmad, S. Galaimani (all PKR); Muhamad Suzuki Ahmad, Mohd Saifullah Abd Nasir (both Amanah); Tan Bee Hong (Majlis Pusat Kebajikan Semalaysia), Tan Choo Eng (Penang Forum) and Harryzan Yaakub (Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia Pulau Pinang).
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhammad