MBPP, MPSP to appoint 10 new councillors this year

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) will see 10 new faces appointed as councillors for another term this year.
Announcing the list of 48 councillors for both councils , state Local Government, Traffic and Flood Mitigation committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the exco approved the appointments today.
He said MBPP is set to receive five new councillors comprising two new faces from PKR while another three will represent non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Five of them are Tan Chiew Choon-PKR, Shahrudin Mohd Sahriff-PKR, Khoo Salma Nasution-NGO, Shung Yin Ni-NGO and Noor Syazwani Mohd Amin- NGO.
Those from MBPP whose services had been terminated or had stepped down included Felix Ooi Keat Hin - PKR, Shahul Hameed M.K. Mohamed Ishack - PKR, Eric Lim Seng Keat - NGO, Dr Lim Mah Hui - NGO and Mohd Yusoff Mohd Noor - NGO.
MPSP, meanwhile, will see two fresh faces from DAP, two from PKR and one each from Amanah and an NGO.
The new faces are Thomas Loh Wei Pheng - DAP, Woo Sze Zeng (Joshua) - DAP, Dr. Seow Kweng Tian - PKR, Fadzil Abdullah - Amanah and Hamizah Abdul Manab - NGO.
Those from MPSP whose services were not renewed and had voluntarily stepped down included Siti Nur Shazreen Mohd Jilani - DAP, Tan Chong Hee - DAP, Goh Choon Aik -PKR, Alias Wan Chek - PKR, Mohd Suzuki Ahmad - Amanah and Ahmad Tarmizi Abdullah -NGO.
He, however, said a vacant councillor position from PKR will be filled up soon, adding that fixed monthly allowance for the councillors still remain at RM2,500 .
He also said appointment of female councillors in MBPP for the new term exceeds the 30% target which was a boost for the female gender.
"I hope all the councillors will be committed in their duty, " he said at a press conference accompanied by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and state exco members.
The new term line-up will also see Dr. Lim Mah Hui replaced by his fellow Penang Forum steering committee member Khoo Salma.
Mah Hui, who is from a non-governmental organisation and is also a vocal critic towards the state government, had decided not to renew his term as a councillor and decided to pass the baton.
When approached, Khoo Salma who is also a heritage advocate said she was ready to serve her new role as councillor.
A former journalist in her early days, she said that she was keen to take up and discuss issues such as greenery.
"Environmental issues are prevalent nowadays," she said, adding that she would strive for a better community.
MBPP's swearing-in ceremony will be held at the Town Hall tomorrow while a similar ceremony for MPSP will be held at Bandar Perda, Bukit Mertajam on Jan 6.