Penang CM dispels claim local councils filled with old faces
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has dispelled claims that the state’s two local councils - Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) - lack new councillors.
Chow (photo) said out of the 24 councillors each in the two city councils, there are 16 new faces in MBSP and 11 in MBPP...
Chow says there are 16 new councillors in MBSP and 11 in MBPP.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has dispelled claims that the state’s two local councils - Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) - lack new councillors.
Chow (photo) said out of the 24 councillors each in the two city councils, there are 16 new faces in MBSP and 11 in MBPP.
"These figures dispel the claim that the local councils are filled with old faces," Chow said at a press conference in Komtar today.
"Yes, there are two (councillors) who have served for 11 years, we cannot deny that, but new candidates are also given the opportunity to serve," he said.
He was responding to a question from the media on the perception that the two local councils lacked new faces.
The question came about after Penang executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo announced the appointments of a total of 48 local councillors for MBPP (24) and MBSP (24).
Jagdeep (below) said the new appointments were made under Section 10 of the 1976 Local Government Act (LGA) as the previous group of councillors’ one-year term ended on Dec 31, 2019.
The 48 councillors' appointments for a one-year term were endorsed by the state government, effective Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2020.
"All councillors have fulfilled the requirements for the job as outlined by the LGA.
"As an additional criterion, the Penang government has sent the councillors’ particulars to the MACC, Insolvency Department, and the police for clearance," Jagdeep said.
The breakdown of the 24 MBPP councillors are from DAP (9), PKR (7), Amanah (2), Bersatu (2) and NGOs (4).
In MBSP, nine councillors are from DAP, PKR (8), Amanah (2), Bersatu (2) and NGOs (3).
MBPP councillors are slated to take their oath on Friday in George Town, while the MBSP councillors will take theirs on Saturday in Bandar Perda, Bukit Mertajam.
Jagdeep said the councillors come from multiracial and multicultural communities of professionals, including lawyers, engineers, academics, and business persons.
"There are also representatives of women’s groups to give them more opportunities to play a bigger role at the local councils and policy-making level," said the Dato Keramat assemblyperson.
"This is in line with the state's aspiration to have 30 percent women at the policy-making level.
"At the moment, there are only nine (MBPP 5, MBSP 4) women or 19 percent of the total appointed to the local councils, while youths represent eight percent.
"There are four in MBPP and three in MBSP who have served as councillors for five years, while two have served for 11 years," Jagdeep said.
