The Penang government has announced the appointment of 48 individuals, including five new faces, as council members for the Penang City Council (MBPP) and the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP). This appointment, approved by the State Executive Council on December 18, is effective from January 1 to December 31, 2025.
The 48 councillors are divided equally between the two local government authorities, with 24 members each. The composition includes 20 members from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), 17 from the People’s Justice Party (PKR), six from Parti Amanah Negara, three from Barisan Nasional, and two from non-governmental organisations.
The five new faces include T. Visvenathan from DAP, who will serve on the Penang City Council, and Lim Eng Nam, Azman Rahim, Yeoh Kim Kim (all from PKR), and Zulkiply Ishak from Parti Amanah Negara, who will serve on the Seberang Perai Municipal Council. State Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye highlighted that the selection was based on their extensive experience in local administration, professional achievements, and their ability to represent the interests of their respective communities.
H’ng Mooi Lye expressed his hope that the new councillors would play an active role in the administration, bring new ideas, and work together to ensure the local government authorities in Penang continue to excel. He emphasized that the combination of experience, ideas, and new energy is expected to strengthen the administrative system, aligning with the state’s aspirations to achieve excellence in service to the people.
Additionally, the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) has announced a 5% increase in assessment rates effective from January 1, 2025. This increase affects 63% of the total holdings in Seberang Perai, including flats, landed residences, trade holdings, factories, and development land. The new assessment rates are expected to generate additional tax revenue of RM10.757 million for MBSP, which will be used for cleaning operations, solid waste disposal, road maintenance, and upgrading public facilities.
The state government has also maintained the allocation of RM60,000 for each opposition member of the Penang Legislative Assembly for 2025, similar to the previous year. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow explained that the state government has coordinated all allocations for the benefit of residents in an integrated manner, involving departments, agencies, and state government-owned companies.
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